The Federal Government through its Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has said fuel tankers will no longer be allowed to move at night.
The Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, stated this in Lagos on Wednesday at a sensitisation programme for petroleum tanker drivers, organised in collaboration with Petroleum Tanker Drivers of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, the National Association of Road Transport Owners, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and other agencies.
Ahmed, who was represented by the Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community at NMDPRA, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, disclosed that truck movement should be between 6 am and 6 pm.
There should be no night driving. Truck movement should only be between 6 am and 6 pm. Anyone caught violating this rule will face sanctions,” he warned. The warnings were aimed at stopping tanker accidents and the explosions that have claimed hundreds of lives in the recent past.
He added that the ban on 60,000 trucks is the full enforcement of safe loading practices and a 10-page checklist covering truck roadworthiness, driver fitness, and safety equipment. On March 1, we began the implementation.
“This journey does not stop at 60,000 litres. By Q4 of 2025, no truck should load more than 45,000 litres. The lower the volume, the better the control and response in the event of an accident,” he said.
The NMDPRA director also added that petroleum tankers must be colour-coded and properly branded for easy identification and enforcement. “We have also mandated the installation of anti-spill containment kits to reduce the risk of product loss and explosion during accidents,” he added.
The Zonal Chairman, Petroleum Tanker Drivers arm of NUPENG, Lagos Zone, Comrade Gbolahan, warned drivers against overloading and reckless driving. He said,
“The country no longer wants high-capacity loading. We, therefore, urge all our members to comply”
