The Nigerian government has announced that petroleum tankers with up to 60,000 litres capacity will no longer be allowed on the roads starting March 1.
This decision aims to reduce road accidents involving heavy-duty fuel trucks.
Ahmed Farouk, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), made this known in Abuja after a meeting with key stakeholders, including security agencies and transport unions.
He added that by the last quarter of 2025, tankers with a 45,000-litre capacity would also be restricted from loading fuel.
The ban follows concerns over frequent accidents linked to overloaded fuel tankers.
Officials stressed that all stakeholders had agreed to enforce safer transportation of petroleum products nationwide.
Farouk also dismissed concerns about fuel quality in Nigeria, assuring that all petroleum products meet strict regulatory standards before distribution.
He said reports questioning fuel quality were misleading and lacked scientific backing.
He further explained that local refineries contribute less than half of Nigeria’s daily petrol supply, with the rest being imported.
Since fuel subsidies were removed, daily petrol consumption has dropped from 66 million litres to around 50 million litres.
T The regulator assured Nigerians that measures are in place to maintain a steady fuel supply across the country.
