By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has explained why it banned 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on Nigerian roads.
The NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, gave the explanation while speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja,
Ukoha said the ban, which would take effect from March 1, would mitigate truck-in-transit incidents.
He said the decision was made in response to the increasing number of road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.
On January 18, a petrol tanker explosion at Dikko junction in Gurara LGA of Niger state reportedly killed at least 50 people.
The accident also left several others with varying degrees of injuries. Speaking at the news conference, Ukoha said the first technical stakeholders’ committee met on Wednesday and set timelines for implementing 10 resolutions to “reduce truck-related incidents and fatalities.”
The executive director said key agencies participated in the deliberations, including the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Additionally, he said the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) also took part.
Ukoha said stakeholders agreed that from March 1, 2025, no truck exceeding an axle load of 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon would be allowed to load at any depot.
”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.
