Ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers begins
….. 2,000 trucks will be affected
About 2,000 trucks will be off the road as the ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers came into effect today.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other stakeholders agreed to ban 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on Nigerian roads with effect on March 1, 2025.
NMDPRA also said they agreed that by the fourth quarter of the year, any truck above 45,000 litres capacity will not be allowed to load petroleum products.
The decision was taken to reduce fatalities from accidents involving fuel tankers.
The stakeholders incude the Department of State Services, Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, and NMDPRA.
Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, NMDPRA, said two weeks ago the stakeholders “agreed that from March 1, 2025, any truck with an axle load of more than 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon will not 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 are continuing to encourage that. We will work together cohesively to deliver a across the country.”
In spite of the concensus, NARTO President, Yusuf Othman, expressed fear that the ban would affect 2,000 trucks and a loss of over N300 billion investment by the tanker owners.
He had urged the federal government to consider a buy-back to help the investors before phasing out the 60,000-litre tankers.
Meanwhile as the ban comes into effect, NARTO’s Secretary General Aloga Ogbogo said they would study the situation before making any comment.
Two tanker drivers, Alhassan Gambo and Usman Small said the new policy will affect products distribution.
“It will lead to reduction in the quantity, but the cost of transporting it will remain the same hence, the possibility of hike in price.
“The issue of scarcity may not be feasible due to the ban, but an increase in price is inevitable,” Gambo said.
On his part, Usman Small has envisaged likely scarcity of petroleum products if the ban becomes effective.
According to him, necessity was behind the construction of the 60, 000 litres carrier and banning it means reduction in supply, which can result to scarcity.
A filling station owner in Borno, Alhaji Mustapha Zarma, said the recurring accidents had to do with bad roads not the capacity of the fuel tankers.
He said it is important to rehabilitate roads across the country to minimise traffic accidents.
