NMDPRA Bans Overloaded Petrol Trucks to Curb Explosions, Sets New Limits
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a ban on petroleum trucks carrying more than 60,000 litres of hydrocarbon products from loading at depots, effective March 1, 2025.
The agency further stated that by the fourth quarter of 2025, only trucks with a maximum capacity of 45,000 litres will be permitted to transport petroleum products.
The announcement was made by the Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, during a briefing in Abuja.
“Beginning 1st March, trucks with capacity in excess of 60,000 litres will not be allowed to load in any loading depot of petroleum products. By Q4 2025, we will also go to preclude the loading of transportation of petroleum products of any truck in excess of 45,000 litres. That is the breaking news for today,” he stated.
Ukoha explained that the decision follows meetings with industry stakeholders to address the recurring incidents of accidents and explosions caused by overloaded petroleum trucks.
To ease the transition, the ban will be implemented in phases, allowing investors and truck owners time to redesign their vehicles and adjust their financial plans accordingly.
Key stakeholders involved in the decision include the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other regulatory bodies.
Ukoha also confirmed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has not imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) this year, contrary to reports that its imported petrol burns faster than that from the Dangote Refinery.
He stated that all petroleum products brought into the country in 2025 meet the required quality standards. Since the removal of the petrol subsidy, Nigeria’s daily fuel consumption has dropped from an average of 66 million litres to 50 million litres.
“The contribution of local refining towards sufficiency is less than 60 per cent currently. January and February 2025 is less than 50 per cent of what we require daily. And that shortfall is sourced by way of importation. Even though none of the OMCs that owned refineries have imported this year’s PMS,” he explained.
Ukoha assured that NMDPRA enforces strict compliance with the quality standards set by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
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“You must meet those specifications, otherwise we will not let those products be distributed,” he stressed.
He also cautioned against misinformation on social media, urging Nigerians to rely on verified data and expert analysis rather than unscientific claims.
The new fuel transportation regulations mark a significant step in improving safety within Nigeria’s petroleum sector while ensuring the continued availability of quality fuel.
