The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), is considering a ban on trucks with a 60,000-litre capacity, citing increasing fatalities from petrol tanker accidents. In the past three years, 493 lives have been lost in such accidents, prompting the government to take action.
A proposal from the government suggests limiting tanker capacity to a maximum of 45,000 litres, in an effort to reduce the number of fatalities from tanker accidents to zero.
Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of NMDPRA, disclosed these plans during a stakeholder engagement on road tanker accidents held at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja. The meeting aimed to identify lasting solutions to the frequent accidents that have claimed numerous lives and caused significant property damage.
Ahmed emphasized the urgency of addressing these incidents, stating that the public is increasingly demanding intervention to protect lives and property. Between 2022 and 2025, petrol tanker accidents have escalated, with fatalities jumping from 7 in 2022 to 341 in 2024, and the current year already seeing 121 deaths.
“The increasing number of accidents is unacceptable,” Ahmed said. “These incidents must be prevented and brought down to zero.”
According to NMDPRA statistics, the number of tanker accidents has grown significantly, with road safety measures already in place, such as determining the appropriate truck carrying capacity. Additionally, initiatives like Minimum Industry Safety Training for downstream operators, mandatory installation of anti-spill safety valves on all tanker trucks, and safe-to-load protocols have been implemented.
Further measures proposed include regular driver checks for fatigue and alcohol consumption, improved public awareness campaigns about the dangers of petroleum spills, and stricter regulations on route management and trucking schedules.
However, not everyone supports the proposed ban on 60,000-litre tankers. Yusuf Othman, President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, expressed concerns about the financial impact. He noted that there are approximately 2,000 trucks with 60,000-litre capacity, each worth over N150 million, representing a total investment of over N300 billion. Othman stressed the importance of balancing safety measures with the protection of substantial investments in the transport sector.
Othman also called for government action to improve road conditions, which he believes directly correlate with the frequency of accidents involving petroleum-laden trucks. He urged the public to exercise caution when near such trucks due to the high risk of fire.
