CurrentReport Blog The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a ban on fuel tankers exceeding 60,000 litres from operating on the country’s roads, a move aimed at reducing the increasing number of road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum trucks.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed that the ban will take effect from March 1, 2025. Additionally, from the fourth quarter of 2025, no fuel truck with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres will be allowed to load petroleum products at depots across the country.
Reason for the Ban
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, stated that the ban was introduced following a rise in road accidents caused by overloaded fuel tankers.
“The first stakeholders’ technical committee met today to establish timelines for about 10 resolutions aimed at addressing the significant increase in truck transit incidents and fatalities,” Ukoha explained.
The decision was reached after deliberations with key agencies and stakeholders, including:
- Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
- Department of State Services (DSS)
- Federal Fire Service
- 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)
According to Ukoha, from March 1, 2025, fuel trucks exceeding 60,000 litres in axle load will no longer be permitted to load at any petroleum depot. By the end of 2025, this restriction will be further reduced to 45,000 litres to enhance road safety.
Ensuring Road Safety and Compliance
The NMDPRA stressed that, for the first time, consensus was reached among all stakeholders on the need for a phased reduction of fuel tanker capacities.
Ukoha emphasized that the new regulation aims to:
- Improve road safety by reducing the risks of accidents caused by overloaded fuel tankers.
- Enhance petroleum product transportation standards in line with global best practices.
- Ensure effective regulation of the downstream petroleum sector to protect lives and property.
NMDPRA Dismisses Fuel Quality Concerns
Addressing recent concerns regarding fuel quality in Nigeria, Ukoha dismissed claims of substandard petroleum products being distributed in the country.
He described such allegations as “bogus, misleading, and unscientific”, assuring Nigerians that all imported and locally refined petroleum products meet strict regulatory standards before being released into the market.
“The regulator would usually be more circumspect and not respond to every comment made in public,” he added, urging Nigerians to disregard false social media reports questioning fuel quality.
The ban on fuel tankers exceeding 60,000 litres, and the further reduction to 45,000 litres by Q4 2025, marks a major step toward improving road safety and ensuring safer transportation of petroleum products in Nigeria.
With collaboration between government agencies and industry stakeholders, the NMDPRA aims to enforce compliance and make Nigeria’s petroleum distribution system more efficient and secure.
