The Nigerian government has announced that fuel tankers with a capacity of 60,000 liters will no longer be allowed to operate on the country’s roads from March 1, 2025.
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Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), stated that the decision was made in response to the rising number of road crashes involving these large tankers. He added that a stakeholders’ technical committee has been set up to address safety concerns and ensure the smooth implementation of the ban.
In addition to this restriction, the government plans to further limit tanker capacity to a maximum of 45,000 liters by the last quarter of 2025.
The decision follows a series of deadly explosions. In October 2024, a tanker blast in Jigawa State killed 209 people, while another in Niger State in January 2025 claimed 86 lives. An explosion in Rivers State also left four dead and over 70 vehicles burned
However, the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has raised concerns over the impact of the ban. NARTO President Yusuf Othman warned that the policy could lead to losses amounting to N300 billion for tanker owners. He argued that poor road conditions, vehicle maintenance, and driver behavior are the primary causes of accidents, rather than the size of the tankers.
