By Sunday Michael Ogwu
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on Nigerian roads, effective March 1, 2025. The decision aims to reduce truck-in-transit accidents, which have led to several fatal infernos.
Additionally, the agency stated that by the fourth quarter of 2025, no truck with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres will be allowed to load petroleum products.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, said the ban was a response to the rising number of road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.
"The first technical stakeholders’ committee meeting was held today to outline timelines for about 10 resolutions aimed at mitigating the surge in truck-related transit accidents and fatalities," he said.
The decision followed deliberations involving key regulatory agencies, 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), and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
Ukoha emphasized that from March 1, 2025, no truck exceeding a 60,000-litre axle load will be permitted to load petroleum products at any depot.
"For the first time, a consensus has been reached among all stakeholders. We are committed to working together to ensure the safe transportation of petroleum products across the country," he added.
Addressing the increasing number of fatalities, Ukoha noted that the frequency of fuel tanker accidents had risen significantly.
"In 2023, we observed a disturbing surge in truck and transit incidents. However, 2024 has seen an even greater spike. Recent data indicates that incidents recorded in January 2024 alone are on track to surpass the total for 2023. This situation is unsustainable, and urgent action is required," he stated.
He revealed that about 10 interventions had been identified to curb these accidents.
In reaction to the policy, the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) expressed concerns over the financial implications for tanker operators.
NARTO President Yusuf Othman, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), estimated that the policy could lead to a loss of N300 billion in investments.
He argued that the cause of accidents was not necessarily the size of the tankers but rather poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and driver-related issues.
"Currently, about 2,000 tankers, each with a 60,000-litre capacity, operate in the petroleum distribution sector. These trucks, valued at approximately N150 million each, represent an investment of N300 billion. Many of them were financed through bank loans," Othman explained.
He urged the federal government to introduce a buy-back policy to compensate investors if the phase-out of large-capacity tankers is enforced.
The recent fuel tanker explosion in Niger State, which claimed nearly 98 lives, has once again highlighted the dangers associated with transporting petroleum products by road.
A data analysis by Anadolu revealed that since 2009, Nigeria has recorded 172 fuel tanker accidents, resulting in approximately 1,896 deaths.
Until October 2024, the year 2019 held the record for the highest number of tanker-related fatalities. However, a devastating explosion on October 15, 2024, in Majia, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, which claimed 181 lives, made 2024 the deadliest year on record.
The research identified major causes of these accidents, including fuel spillage collection by bystanders, crashes in densely populated areas, vehicle collisions, and human errors. More than 100 incidents were linked to human-related factors.
Since May 2023, Nigeria has reported 28 oil tanker accidents, resulting in 46 deaths. These incidents account for over 15% of all accidents and nearly 25% of recorded fatalities since 2009.
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