Going by its earlier calculations, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) may lose a whopping N300bn in assets as the federal government’s directive banning 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on the nation’s roads, effective March 1, 2025, will lead to the grounding of NARTO’s 2000 tankers valued at N150m each.
Announcing the ban, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said it is aimed at curbing the rising number of accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum trucks.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday – yesterday, February 19, NMDPRA Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, said the announcement came after extensive consultations with stakeholders.
He added that by the fourth quarter of 2025, trucks with capacities exceeding 45,000 litres will also be prohibited from loading petroleum products.
“This decision was made to address the significant increase in truck-related transit incidents and fatalities,” Ukoha said.
He highlighted that over 3,500 lives have been lost in tanker-related accidents between 2010 and 2025.
A recent explosion at Dikko Junction in Niger State claimed at least 50 lives, underscoring the urgency of these measures.
The policy was developed after deliberations with key agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
In an interview on Sunday – February 16 – NARTO president Yusuf Othman, had said: “We have about 2,000 trucks worth about N150 million each, which is about N300 billion. It will not be fair for them to go down the drain; we are trying to see if there is a win-win situation.
“We all are not happy with the recent development that led to loss of lives and we pray that it will not be repeated again. It’s a huge monumental loss, as well as a monumental loss of investments.
“However, as much as we appreciate the concern of the public and government in this respect, we believe that the 60,000 litres tanker capacity is not the cause of the accidents because the weight is on the back axle.
“In such an accident, people rush to start scooping and in the process of doing that the explosion occurs.’’
However, according to Ukoha, the ban decision came as the first time consensus had been reached among all stakeholders to ensure safer transportation of petroleum products.
“From March 1, 2025, no truck with an axle load exceeding 60,000 litres will be allowed to load at any depot,” he said.
“This phased approach will give investors time to redesign their trucks and adjust operations.”
Addressing recent claims about poor fuel quality circulating on social media, Ukoha dismissed them as “bogus” and “unscientific,” assuring Nigerians that all petroleum products—whether imported or locally refined—undergo rigorous testing before distribution.
“Accredited laboratories test every product against strict specifications set by SON,” he explained.
“These parameters include Research Octane Number (RON), sulfur content, density, and color differentiation to prevent misidentification. For instance, ATK (aviation fuel) is colorless to distinguish it from other products like PMS (petrol) or AGO (diesel).”
Ukoha stressed that hydrocarbons are not pure compounds but must fall within regulatory limits to be deemed compliant.
He also highlighted the environmental risks posed by high sulfur content and its corrosive effects on infrastructure, noting that there has a significant reduction in daily Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) consumption since the removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023.
Prior to the subsidy withdrawal, daily consumption averaged 66 million litres but has since dropped to around 50 million litres, while local refineries currently contribute less than 50% of this supply, with the shortfall being met through imports.
“Without bridging this gap through imports, we would face scarcity,” he said. He also clarified that no local oil marketing companies have imported PMS this year, leaving independent marketers to fill the gap.
The NMDPRA reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring sufficient supply and compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) while prioritizing safety and transparency in pricing.
