The Federal Government (FO) has announced a ban on fuel tankers exceeding 60,000 litres from operating on Nigerian roads, a move aimed at curbing accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum trucks, ABN TV reports.
The ban is expected to take effect from March 1, 2025.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) disclosed this development, adding that by the fourth quarter of 2025, no truck with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres will be permitted to load petroleum products.
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Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, explained that the decision was reached following an alarming rise in road accidents involving fuel tankers.
“The first stakeholder’s technical committee met today to drill down and put timelines for about 10 resolutions that had been taken on how to drive down the significant increase that had been observed in relation to trucks and transit incidents and fatalities,” Ukoha stated.
He further revealed that key stakeholders, including the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and NMDPRA, were involved in the decision-making process.
According to Ukoha, a consensus was reached among all stakeholders to enforce the new regulations in the interest of public safety. From March 1, 2025, trucks with an axle load exceeding 60,000 litres of hydrocarbons will be prohibited from loading at any depot in the country.
“This is an important step because, for the first time, consensus was built amongst all stakeholders, and we are continuing to encourage cohesive efforts to ensure the safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” he emphasized.
Addressing concerns regarding fuel quality, Ukoha dismissed recent claims about substandard fuel in circulation, describing them as “bogus, misleading, and unscientific.”
He reassured Nigerians that all imported and locally refined petroleum products meet strict regulatory standards before entering the market.
“The regulator would usually be more circumspect and not respond to every comment that is made in the public,” he added, urging the public to disregard misinformation about fuel quality.
The NMDPRA remains committed to ensuring compliance with industry standards and implementing measures to enhance road safety and fuel quality control in the country.
