The Federal Government through its Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has said fuel tankers will no longer be allowed to move at night.

The Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, stated this in Lagos on Wednesday at a sensitisation programme for petroleum tanker drivers, organised in collaboration with Petroleum Tanker Drivers of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and other agencies.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community at NMDPRA, Dr. Mustapha Lamorde, disclosed that truck movement should be between 6 am and 6 pm.

?There should be no night driving. Truck movement should only be between 6 am and 6 pm. Anyone caught violating this rule will face sanctions,? he warned. The warnings were aimed at stopping tanker accidents and the explosions that have claimed hundreds of lives in the recent past.

He added that the ban on 60,000 trucks is being implemented, and no truck will load more than 45,000 litres by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. Lamorde disclosed that a technical working committee comprising 13 institutions had been formed to address the trend.

?As part of its resolutions on February 19, the committee recommended the full enforcement of safe loading practices and a 10-page checklist covering truck roadworthiness, driver fitness, and safety equipment. On March 1, we began the implementation.

?This journey does not stop at 60,000 litres. By Q4 of 2025, no truck should load more than 45,000 litres. The lower the volume, the better the control and response in the event of an accident,? he said.

The NMDPRA director also added that petroleum tankers must be colour-coded and properly branded for easy identification and enforcement. ?We have also mandated the installation of anti-spill containment kits to reduce the risk of product loss and explosion during accidents,? he added.

The Zonal Chairman, Petroleum Tanker Drivers arm of NUPENG, Lagos Zone, Comrade Gbolahan, warned drivers against overloading and reckless driving. He said, ?The country no longer wants high-capacity loading. We, therefore, urge all our members to comply.

Gbolahan reminded drivers to prioritise their health and make use of their health insurance coverage. ?If you feel unwell or have a headache, go to the nearest hospital. You?re covered under the health insurance plan and shouldn?t pay out of your pocket. Report any hospital that demands payment,? he told the drivers.

The National Operational Coordinator, NARTO, Dr. Kassim Ibrahim, commended President Bola Tinubu and the NMDPRA for setting up the safety initiative.

?This is the first administration that has taken a strong step to prioritise driver safety. We at NARTO fully support the move and will continue to work closely with the government and NUPENG to improve safety,? he said.

Ibrahim urged drivers to avoid dangerous practices such as drinking alcohol before driving and overspeeding. ?Drive slowly. If you go slowly, you will arrive safely. But if you rush, you may never get there. That?s the reality on our roads today,? he warned.

The Assistant Corps Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Hyginus Omeje, also urged the drivers to embrace defensive driving habits.

According to him, the best driver is not the one who drives with one hand or overtakes carelessly, but a good driver is the one who gets from one point to another without accidents.

Omeje advised drivers to take responsibility for their safety, saying over 80 per cent of road crashes in the country are due to human error. ?Do not let your safety depend on another road user. Whether you are right or wrong, always take steps to avoid a crash,? the FRSC official advised.

He also called on NARTO to ensure that all trucks are equipped with speed-limiting devices. ?Trucks should not go above regulated speed limits. Obey traffic laws and remember that patience can save your life,? Omeje cautioned. (The PUNCH)

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