The Federal Government has announced a ban on fuel tankers with capacities exceeding 60,000 litres from operating on Nigerian roads, effective March 1, 2025. This decision was disclosed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Additionally, by the fourth quarter of 2025, trucks exceeding 45,000 litres will no longer be permitted to load petroleum products.
Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, explained to journalists in Abuja that the ban is a response to the rising number of accidents involving large petroleum tankers.
“The first stakeholder’s technical committee met today to drill down and put timelines for about 10 resolutions that had been taken on how to drive down the significant increase that had been observed in relation to trucks and transit incidents and fatalities,” Ukoha said.
Following deliberations with key stakeholders, including the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and NMDPRA, it was agreed that from March 1, 2025, trucks with axle loads above 60,000 litres will be barred from loading at depots.
Ukoha noted that for the first time, consensus was reached among all stakeholders to work collaboratively for safer transportation of petroleum products. “The important thing about this is that, for the first time, consensus was built amongst all stakeholders, and we’re continuing to encourage that we will work together cohesively to deliver a safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” he added.
Addressing recent claims about substandard fuel quality in circulation, Ukoha dismissed them as “bogus, misleading, and unscientific.” He assured the public that both imported and locally refined petroleum products adhere to strict regulatory standards before entering the market.
He emphasized that social media claims about fuel quality are baseless and should be disregarded, adding, “The regulator would usually be more circumspect and not respond to every comment that is made in the public.”
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