45,000 Litres Max: Fuel Tankers Face Crackdown in Sweeping October Reform

According to iReporter Online, the Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has announced a strict new safety measure that will prohibit petroleum tankers from loading more than 45,000 litres of fuel, effective October 1, 2025.

The directive, which was revealed by the Zonal Chairman, Chief Oyewole Akanni, emerged from a joint stakeholders’ meeting involving IPMAN, government representatives, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), oil marketers, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. The decision aims to drastically curb the frequent and often fatal tanker-related accidents plaguing Nigeria’s highways.

Akanni disclosed that prior to this new guideline, certain tankers were loading as much as 60,000 to 90,000 litres of petroleum, despite the structural limitations of many trucks. He described the trend as both dangerous and damaging, citing overloading as a major contributor to road deterioration and vehicle instability that often leads to accidents.

As part of the safety overhaul, the government has also mandated the installation of spill-proof safety covers on all tankers. These covers are designed to prevent fuel from leaking in the event of a crash, unless the tank is physically punctured. However, Akanni noted that a significant challenge remains—the deliberate vandalism of fallen tankers by individuals who puncture them to illegally siphon fuel.

In addition to load restrictions, IPMAN has introduced nighttime driving bans for tanker operators. Drivers have been instructed to halt operations by 7:00 p.m. and resume at 7:00 a.m., as fatigue-related crashes frequently occur during nighttime hours. Akanni, however, expressed concern that compliance has not been absolute.

The association emphasized that these measures form part of a broader national effort to address a troubling pattern of tanker disasters, which have been linked to systemic failures such as lax enforcement, inadequate infrastructure, overloading, and dangerous public behaviours like fuel scooping.

Akanni affirmed IPMAN’s continued collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure these reforms are enforced and the rising wave of accidents is reversed through tougher regulation, education, and compliance monitoring.