Nigeria’s federal government has announced plans to ban petroleum tankers with capacities of 60,000 and 45,000 litres.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed the new regulations on Wednesday, citing the rising frequency of tanker accidents, which have caused numerous fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure.

The ban will be phased in, starting with 60,000-litre tankers, which will be prohibited from 1st March, 2025. Tankers with a 45,000-litre capacity will be allowed to operate until the fourth quarter of 2025.

Tanker-related accidents have claimed over 3,500 lives since 2010.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred in Jigawa in 2024, when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded, killing dozens and leaving behind a mass grave.

As Nigeria lacks sufficient pipelines to transport petroleum, the country has long depended on tankers. However, the NMDPRA has acknowledged that this reliance has worsened road safety issues.

Despite limited infrastructure, the regulatory authority stressed that it could not wait for the development of alternatives such as pipelines or railways.

“Every life lost is one too many. This is the work we must do, and we will not back down,” said Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA Executive Director for Distribution Systems.