FG Bans 60,000-Litre Fuel Tankers from Roads Starting March 1

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on the country’s roads, effective March 1, 2025. The decision aims to reduce road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Ogbugo Ukoha, the NMDPRA executive director of distribution systems, storage, and retailing infrastructure, emphasized that the move was necessary to mitigate truck-in-transit incidents. He cited the rising number of accidents involving fuel tankers, including a tragic explosion on January 18 at Dikko junction in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, which reportedly claimed at least 50 lives and left many others injured.

Ukoha revealed that a technical stakeholders’ committee convened on Wednesday to establish timelines for implementing ten resolutions aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing fatalities. The meeting included representatives from key agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), the Federal Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Other participating organizations included the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the NMDPRA itself. Following deliberations, all stakeholders agreed that, starting March 1, 2025, no truck exceeding an axle load of 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon would be permitted to load at any depot.

Ukoha highlighted the significance of this decision, noting that, for the first time, all relevant stakeholders had reached a consensus on improving the safety of petroleum product transportation across Nigeria. He assured that efforts would continue to ensure coordinated implementation and compliance with the new regulations.