FG bans night movement of fuel tankers across Nigeria

The Federal Government has stopped fuel tankers from moving at night as part of new safety measures in the petroleum transport sector.

This was announced by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) during a sensitisation programme held on Wednesday in Lagos.

The Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, who was represented by the Executive Director for Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, said the new rule aims to reduce the number of deadly accidents involving petroleum tankers across Nigeria.

According to the directive, fuel trucks must now operate only between 6 am and 6 pm. “There should be no night driving. Anyone caught violating this rule will face sanctions,” Lamorde said.

He noted that the decision follows a pattern of sad incidents in recent years involving fuel tankers that exploded or caused fatal crashes while moving at night.

“There should be no night driving. Truck movement should only be between 6am and 6pm. Anyone caught violating this rule will face sanctions,” he warned.

Lamorde further disclosed that the government is enforcing a phased ban on 60,000-litre capacity trucks, stating that by the last quarter of 2025, no fuel truck will be allowed to load more than 45,000 litres.

“The lower the volume, the better the control and response in the event of an accident,” he added.

To ensure stricter compliance, a 13-member technical working committee was set up to address fuel tanker safety concerns.

The committee, which began implementing its recommendations on March 1, 2025, introduced a 10-page safety checklist covering truck roadworthiness, driver health, and mandatory safety equipment.

The NMDPRA also directed that all petroleum tankers must be colour-coded and properly branded for easy identification.

Additionally, all trucks must have anti-spill containment kits installed to reduce the risks of product loss and explosions during road mishaps.

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