Nigeria Bans Fuel Tankers Over 60,000 Litres to Enhance Road Safety

Fuel Tanks [Jason Mitrione]

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has announced a ban on fuel tankers with capacities exceeding 60,000 litres, effective March 1, 2025. This decision aims to mitigate the alarming number of accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers, which have led to significant fatalities and property damage across the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, stated, “The ban, which would take effect from March 1, would mitigate truck-in-transit incidents." He added that the directive follows consultations with various stakeholders and is part of a phased approach to improve road safety. By the fourth quarter of 2025, the ban will extend to trucks with capacities exceeding 45,000 litres, further tightening regulations on petroleum transportation.

The decision comes in response to a series of tragic incidents involving fuel tankers. For instance, a petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Niger State on January 18, 2025, claimed at least 50 lives, with several others injured. Additionally, reports indicate that tanker-related accidents have caused over 3,500 deaths between 2010 and 2025. These incidents highlight the urgent need for stricter safety measures.

The NMDPRA emphasised that this move is part of broader efforts to enhance safety in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector. Ukoha noted that a technical stakeholders’ committee has developed 10 resolutions aimed at reducing truck-related incidents. Key participants in these deliberations included agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and industry groups like the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

“This is the first time consensus was built among all stakeholders,” Ukoha remarked. “We’re continuing to encourage that we will work together cohesively to deliver safe transportation of petroleum products across the country." The government has also mandated additional safety measures, such as installing anti-spill valves on tankers and conducting public awareness campaigns against scooping fuel at accident scenes.