Federal Government Bans 60,000-Litre Tankers From Transporting Petroleum Products
The federal government has issued a ban on fuel tankers with a 60,000-litre capacity from loading and transporting petroleum products across Nigeria. The ban, set to take effect on March 1, 2025, is part of efforts to reduce the frequency of tanker explosions and fires, which have caused significant loss of life and property in the country.
Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), made the announcement, stressing that the decision is a response to the increasing number of tragic tanker-related accidents. Recent data revealed that nearly 493 people have died in such incidents over the past three years, with 121 fatalities already recorded in just the first two months of 2025.
Ahmed, represented by Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director of Distribution, Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, shared the news during a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. He added that, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2025, the ban would extend to any tanker with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres.
“From March 1, 2025, trucks carrying more than 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon will not be allowed to load at any depot,” Ahmed explained. “Additionally, by Q4 of 2025, trucks exceeding 45,000 litres will also be prohibited from transporting petroleum products.”
This new regulation was developed following extensive consultations among key stakeholders, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Federal Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (NUPENG), and other relevant bodies. The collaborative effort aims to address the high number of tanker accidents and improve safety in petroleum product transportation.
“This is just one of ten measures agreed upon by stakeholders to reduce truck accidents,” Ahmed noted, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation among all parties to ensure safer transportation of petroleum products across the country.
