The Federal Government has made an important announcement regarding the transportation of petroleum products in Nigeria. Starting from March 1, 2025, trucks that can carry more than 60,000 liters of these products will not be allowed to load at depots or travel on federal highways. This means that any truck with a capacity greater than this limit will have to stop operating in these areas.
Additionally, by the end of 2025, specifically in the fourth quarter, the government will further reduce the limit. No truck that carries more than 45,000 liters of petroleum products will be permitted to load from the depots.
This decision was shared by Ogbugo Ukoha, who is the Executive Director of Distribution System, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. He made this announcement during a press briefing in Abuja, the capital city, on Wednesday.
The reason behind this ban stems from a series of tragic accidents and explosions involving trucks that were overloaded with petroleum products. Over the past three years, these incidents have resulted in the deaths of 493 people. In response to these growing concerns, the regulatory authority met with various stakeholders in the industry to discuss how to improve safety and reduce these accidents.
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Last week, during a meeting with industry stakeholders, the government hinted at this ban on trucks with a capacity of over 60,000 liters. The decision was not made lightly, as it aims to address the serious issue of safety on the roads. However, some industry leaders, like Yusuf Othman, the President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, expressed their opposition to the ban. He warned that this could lead to significant financial losses, estimating that over 300 billion naira (approximately 780 million USD) could be at risk. He also mentioned that more than 2,000 trucks could be left abandoned, resulting in a loss of around 150 million naira (about 390,000 USD) for each truck.
Despite the concerns from truck owners, the regulatory authority is moving forward with the ban after discussions with various groups involved in the petroleum transport industry, including independent oil marketers and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria. Ukoha explained that the decision to implement the ban in phases is intended to give truck owners and investors time to adjust. This means they will have the opportunity to modify their trucks and find new ways to operate within the new regulations.
Historically, the capacity of these trucks has increased over the years, moving from about 27,000 liters to 33,000 liters, and now to 45,000 liters. Ukoha noted that a meeting in 2020 had already set the 45,000-liter limit, but the recent increase in accidents involving trucks over 60,000 liters prompted the need for stricter regulations.
He emphasized that while the new rules may impact investments and the trucking industry, the government is committed to ensuring safety on the roads. The phased implementation of the new limits is meant to provide a balance, allowing all stakeholders time to adapt to the changes while prioritizing public safety.
