The Federal Government has banned all 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on Nigerian roads, effective March 1, 2025.
The federal government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) explained that the measure is meant to curb the rising number of accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum trucks.
NMDPRA Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, said in a press conference in Abuja yesterday that the decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders.
He added that by the fourth quarter of 2025, trucks with capacities exceeding 45,000 litres would also be prohibited from loading petroleum products.
“This decision was made to address the significant increase in truck-related transit incidents and fatalities,” Ukoha stated.
According to him, over 3,500 lives had been lost in tanker-related accidents between 2010 and 2025. A recent explosion at Dikko Junction in Niger State, which claimed at least 50 lives, highlighted the urgency of the new measures.
It was stated that the policy was developed after deliberations with agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“For the first time, there’s consensus among stakeholders to ensure safer transportation of petroleum products.
“From March 1, 2025, no truck with an axle load exceeding 60,000 litres will be allowed to load at any depot. This phased approach gives investors time to redesign trucks and adjust operations”, he said.
