The Nigerian government has announced a ban on fuel tankers carrying more than 60,000 litres from using the country’s roads. This ban will start on March 1, 2025.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) also said that by the end of 2025, no truck carrying more than 45,000 litres will be allowed to transport fuel.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Ogbugo Ukoha, an NMDPRA official, said the ban was introduced because of the increasing number of accidents involving large fuel tankers.
He explained that a meeting was held with important stakeholders, including security agencies, road safety officials, fuel transport owners, and marketers.
They all agreed that, starting from March 1, 2025, any truck carrying more than 60,000 litres of fuel will not be allowed to load at any depot.
“This is the first time all stakeholders have agreed on this issue, and we will continue working together to make fuel transportation safer,” Ukoha said.
He also denied reports that poor-quality fuel is being sold in Nigeria. He assured the public that all fuel, whether imported or refined locally, meets safety and quality standards before being released for use.
He described recent social media claims about bad fuel as false and misleading, saying the regulator would not react to every comment made in public.
