The Nigerian government and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) are at odds over the proposal to ban petroleum trucks with a 60,000-litre capacity from operating on federal highways.
The disagreement comes after the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) proposed the restriction in a bid to curb the increasing number of fatal tanker explosions on the country’s roads.
During a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, outlined the authority’s plan to reduce tanker explosion fatalities. He explained that the government seeks to limit trucks to a 45,000-litre capacity, a measure aimed at preventing future tragedies.
According to Ahmed, the number of deaths from petroleum truck explosions has been on the rise. In 2022, seven lives were lost, followed by 24 in 2023, and 341 deaths in 2024. This year, already in the first two months, 121 fatalities have been recorded due to road tanker accidents, with 79 others injured. He stressed that such incidents were “unnecessary and unacceptable” and emphasized the need for action to reduce fatalities to zero.
“We have already recorded five tanker accidents this year, leading to 121 fatalities and 79 injuries. These incidents must be prevented and brought down to zero,” Ahmed said, urging downstream operators to adhere to safety protocols to avoid accidents.
However, Yusuf Othman, the President of NARTO, voiced strong opposition to the proposal, warning that banning 60,000-litre trucks could result in a significant financial loss. He argued that transporters are investors with substantial financial stakes, and such a ban could cost the industry over N300 billion in investments.
“These investments are huge. A truck that can load 60,000 litres typically has a strong and reliable engine, costing around N150 million per truck,” Othman explained. “We have about 2,000 of these trucks, and this ban would affect investments financed by banks and other lenders.”
The ongoing debate underscores the tension between road safety concerns and the economic interests of transport operators, with both sides calling for further dialogue and solutions to address the growing problem of tanker-related accidents on Nigerian highways.
