Photo Credit- Alamy
The federal government has issued a directive mandating truck owners to paint their vehicles in distinct colours to indicate the type of products they carry.
Acting through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in partnership with the unified Petroleum Price Engagement Network, the move is aimed at reducing the risks associated with petroleum product transportation across the country.
Already, a notification has been sent to all truck owners in this regard.
According to the new regulations, trucks transporting Automotive Gas Oil must be painted in light blue and deep yellow, while trucks carrying Premium Motor Spirit must be painted in blue.
Trucks conveying Dual Purpose Kerosene must be in a deep yellow colour, black colour for Jet A1 and a deep green colour indication for bio-fuel trucks.
The notice read, “We have been informed that the Unified Petroleum Price Engagement Network and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have begun implementing the colour code policy for all petroleum products.
“As part of this directive, All trucks transporting AGO must be painted in the designated AGO colour. All trucks transporting PMS must be painted in the designated PMS colour.
“This colour code policy applies to all trucks before departure. Please ensure compliance with this new regulation to avoid any disruptions to your operations.”
It added that the penalty on default by truck owners will commence on May 1, 2025.
Earlier in the year, the NMDPRA announced a ban on trucks with a maximum loading capacity of 60,000 litres, indicating that 45,000-litre capacity trucks were going to be the maximum allowed tankers.
This follows the increasing number of deaths resulting from petrol tanker accidents, which has led to the death of 493 persons in three years.
Other measures recommended by the NMDPRA were the implementation of safe-to-load initiatives, colour coding and branding of all tank trucks.
