Despite the Federal Government’s announcement of a ban on trucks carrying more than 60,000 liters of hydrocarbon products from loading at depots and using federal roads starting March 1, 2024, it appears that the enforcement of this order has not been effectively carried out. Industry sources revealed that the enforcement of the policy has been postponed to September, despite claims by a senior official from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority that the ban was already in effect.
The ban was initially announced by the NMDPRA on February 20, 2025, limiting trucks to a maximum capacity of 45,000 liters due to the high number of fatalities resulting from accidents involving petrol tankers. This decision was made following discussions with industry stakeholders to address the recurring accidents and explosions caused by overloaded trucks carrying petroleum products.
Although the announcement received praise from industry stakeholders, reports indicate that tanker drivers have continued to load trucks that exceed the banned capacity. This discrepancy is attributed to pressure from major oil marketers with a significant presence in the North, leading to the postponement of the ban’s implementation to October.
While the NMDPRA spokesperson insists that the ban is being enforced, reports from private depot marketers and the National Association of Road Transport Owners suggest otherwise. Despite claims of compliance, it appears that the ban has not been fully implemented, with trucks exceeding the specified capacity still being loaded.
The decision to delay the ban has raised concerns about job losses for drivers of trucks that exceed the new capacity limit. Discussions are ongoing between industry stakeholders and the Federal Government to address these challenges and find a suitable resolution.