The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on the roads.
The decision aims to mitigate the increasing number of truck-in-transit accidents and will take effect on March 1, 2025.
Speaking to journalists yesterday in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA’s Executive Director for Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, stated that the ban resulted from extensive deliberations involving key stakeholders.
Agencies involved in the decision included the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
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Others are the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN).
“For the first time, consensus was built among all stakeholders, and we will continue to work together cohesively to ensure the safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” Ukoha stated.
Addressing recent claims regarding the quality of fuel in circulation, Ukoha dismissed them as misleading and unscientific.
He assured Nigerians that all imported and locally refined petroleum products meet strict regulatory standards before being released into the market.
“It is disrespectful to assume Nigerians are gullible. Those making unscientific claims are misleading the public and not contributing positively to the discourse,” he said.
He reaffirmed the NMDPRA’s commitment to complying with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and adhering to the specifications set by SON.
Ukoha explained that regulatory standards account for key parameters, including the Research Octane Number (RON), sulfur content, density, oxygenate levels, and colour differentiation to prevent the misidentification of products.
“Before any product is distributed in Nigeria, the regulator ensures that accredited laboratories test every batch and issue quality certification to confirm compliance with specifications,” he added.
Providing insights into the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply, Ukoha noted that daily consumption, which averaged 66 million litres before subsidy removal in May 2023, has now dropped to approximately 50 million litres.
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Local refineries contribute less than 50% of this demand, with the shortfall being met through imports.
“Following the President’s subsidy withdrawal announcement on May 29, 2023, we observed a steep decline in consumption.
“Presently, none of the oil marketing companies that own refineries in Nigeria have imported any PMS this year. The shortfall is being bridged by other oil marketing companies to prevent scarcity,” Ukoha explained.
He emphasised the NMDPRA’s continued efforts to ensure sufficient petroleum supply across the country, underscoring that regulatory compliance remains a top priority for industry stability and consumer protection.
