In a bid to curb the high rate of truck-in- transit accidents and fatalities, the Nigerian Midstream, Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has announced a ban on transit trucks carrying over 60,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from plying Nigerian roads, effective March 1.
This move comes after Nigeria recorded 28 oil tanker accidents, resulting in 468 deaths, since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023.
Persecondnews reports that fuel tanker accidents in Nigeria from January 2010 to January 2025 accounted for over 2,500 tanker crashes and about 3,445 fatalities.
Two recent devastating incidents highlight the urgency of addressing fuel tanker safety. On January 18, 2025, a fuel tanker explosion near Dikko Junction in Suleja, Niger State, claimed the lives of at least 98 people.
Just seven days later, on January 25, 2025, another tragic incident occurred at Ugwu Onyeama in Enugu State, where over 20 people were fatally burnt.
According to Mr. Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at NMDPRA, trucks in excess of 60,000 litres will not be allowed to load in any loading depot for petroleum products.
Ukoha said by the fourth quarter of 2025, the transportation of petroleum in trucks exceeding 45,000 litres will also be prohibited.
“This ban is part of a comprehensive plan to mitigate truck accidents, with stakeholders agreeing on ten key measures to address the issue.
“For the first time, consensus was built amongst all stakeholders, and we will continue to encourage them and work together to deliver safe petroleum products across the country,” Ukoha said.
Ukoha also reassured the public about the quality of Nigeria’s petrol, reiterating that the authority complies with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2024) and the specifications set out by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).
Details shortly….
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