The Federal Government of Nigeria has imposed a ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers from loading and transporting petroleum products across the country. This directive, announced by the Nigerian Midoral Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), takes effect on March 1, 2025.The decision to ban the large fuel tankers is aimed at reducing the incidence of tanker explosions and fires, which have claimed numerous lives in recent years. According to available data, no fewer than 493 fatalities have occurred due to tanker-related incidents over the past three years, with 121 deaths reported in just the first two months of 2025.
The ban is part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety and prevent accidents involving oversized fuel tankers. In addition to the immediate ban on 60,000-litre tankers, the government has also announced plans to extend the ban to trucks with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres by the fourth quarter of 2025.The announcement was made by Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution, Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at the NMDPRA, who represented the Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, during a press briefing in Abuja. The government’s move is expected to significantly reduce the risk of tanker accidents and enhance overall safety on Nigerian roads.
“The breaking news from today today’s meeting comprising DSS, FEMA, Federal Fire Service, Road Safety, NATO, NUPENG, MEMAN, PETROAN, IPMAN, DAPMAN, SON, ONSA, is that beginning 1st March, any truck with an axle load that is carrying more than 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon will not be allowed to load at any loading depot.
“Let me repeat that again. Beginning 1st March, trucks with a capacity in excess of 60,000 litres will not be allowed to load in any loading depot for petroleum products. “By Q4 of 2025, we will also preclude the loading or transportation of petroleum products on any truck in excess of 45,000 litres. So that is the breaking news for today.
“This is just one out of ten measures that stakeholders have agreed that need to be addressed if we want to mitigate the high level of trucks in transit accidents. “The important thing about this is that for the first time consensus was built amongst all stakeholders and we are continuing to encourage that we work together cohesively to deliver a safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” Ahmed stated.
Source : https://leadership.ng/
