The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a ban on 60,000-liter petroleum tankers from operating on Nigerian roads, effective March 1, in an effort to reduce truck-related accidents.
Ahmed Farouk, the NMDPRA Chief Executive, revealed the decision during a news briefing in Abuja on Wednesday following a Stakeholders Technical Committee Meeting.
He further disclosed that by the fourth quarter of 2025, trucks with a 45,000-liter capacity would also be prohibited from loading petroleum products.
The meeting, which was attended by officials from various agencies including the State Security Service (SSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), also involved the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
Farouk, represented by Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, explained that the decision was made in response to the frequent accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.
He stated that the technical committee meeting was aimed at addressing the rising incidents and fatalities related to these tankers.
The NMDPRA Chief Executive emphasized that starting March 1, trucks with an axle load of more than 60,000 liters of hydrocarbons would no longer be allowed to load at depots.
He highlighted that the consensus reached among stakeholders would contribute to safer transportation of petroleum products across Nigeria.
Farouk also responded to recent claims about the quality of fuel circulating in the country, dismissing them as false, misleading, and unscientific.
He assured the public that all petroleum products—whether locally refined or imported—are tested in accredited laboratories to ensure they meet strict regulatory standards before being released into the market.
He further explained that the NMDPRA ensures compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and SON’s product specifications, which include factors such as sulphur content and oxygenate levels.
He also addressed concerns about sulphur content, noting that excessive levels can lead to corrosion and environmental pollution.
Regarding petroleum supply, Farouk noted that daily Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply, which averaged 66 million liters before the subsidy removal, now hovers around 50 million liters, with less than 50% of the supply coming from domestic refineries.
The shortfall is met through imports, which are necessary to avoid scarcity.
He reassured that the NMDPRA remains vigilant in ensuring sufficient petroleum product supply across the country, despite the challenges posed by the reduction in local refinery contributions.
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