The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners NARTO has raised concerns over the ban on large tankers carrying over 60,000 litres of petroleum products in the country.
Last week, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced a ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on Nigerian roads, effective March 1, 2025.
Reacting to the development, NARTO’s National President, Yusuf Othman, in a chat with Punch, said the restriction would reduce the supply of petroleum products, especially in Northern Nigeria, which relies heavily on products transported from Southern depots.
“The ban, which takes effect from March 1, 2025, will prevent trucks carrying more than 60,000 litres from loading at depots and travelling on federal roads. By October 1, 2025, the restriction will be further reduced to 45,000 litres per truck,” Othman said
He noted that NARTO is reviewing the situation and working closely with its members to assess the potential financial losses, which could amount to over N300bn in investments.
Othman also expressed concern over the livelihoods of approximately 2,000 drivers, 2,000 motor-boys, and their families who could be directly affected by the changes. He noted that the association is also considering the option of reducing the capacity of the affected tanker through fabrication.
“We are exploring options such as fabricating smaller tankers to comply with the new regulations. We are also looking into how we can tap into the Federal Government’s policy on Compressed Natural Gas and associated infrastructure development.
In a few days, we will have a clearer position on the matter, but for now, we have taken the government’s directive in good faith.”
Othman, however, raised concerns about the state of the nation’s roads, which he believes play a significant role in tanker accidents.
“We have asked the government what measures they are taking to improve the condition of our roads, as this is another factor contributing to fuel tanker accidents,” he said.
Regarding the potential impact of the ban on fuel distribution, Othman highlighted that the volume of supply to far-reaching areas in Northern Nigeria would likely decrease due to the reduced capacity of trucks. He warned that this could lead to price fluctuations, driven by the basic principle of supply and demand.
“The deregulation of the sector has already made market dynamics unpredictable. It’s difficult to forecast all the possible outcomes, but there will undoubtedly be an effect on the volume and cost of fuel distribution” Othman said.
