Nigeria may face a tanker shortage as the Federal Government moves to ban 60,000- and 45,000-litre capacity petroleum trucks.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced on Wednesday that tankers exceeding 60,000 litres would be banned immediately, while 45,000-litre tankers would be phased out by the fourth quarter of 2025.
This decision follows a surge in tanker-related accidents, which have led to deaths and property destruction.
Nigeria, which relies on road transport for fuel distribution due to the absence of functional pipelines, has seen its road infrastructure deteriorate under the weight of heavy tankers.
NMDPRA Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Ogbugo Ukoha, told journalists in Abuja that the move was necessary to curb accidents and protect lives.
“Every life lost is one too many. We cannot fold our hands and wait for pipelines or railways to become viable alternatives. This is the work we must do, and we will not back down,” Ukoha stated.
Reports indicate that between 2010 and 2025, over 2,500 tanker crashes have claimed more than 3,500 lives in Nigeria. The deadliest incident occurred in Jigawa in 2024 when an overturned fuel tanker exploded, killing dozens and leaving behind a mass grave.
Despite a 2020 agreement to cap truckloads at 45,000 litres, tankers exceeding 60,000 litres have continued to operate, worsening road safety concerns.
The NMDPRA assured a phased implementation of the ban, starting with the immediate prohibition of 60,000-litre tankers and a gradual phase-out of 45,000-litre trucks by late 2025.
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