The Senate has initiated measures to ban the daytime movement of articulated lorries, tankers, and trailers across the country.
A bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007, to Restrict the Daytime Movement of Heavy-Duty Vehicles and for Related Matters” was read for the first time yesterday in the Senate.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, APC, Delta North, seeks to restrict the operations of heavy-duty vehicles to between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 am, except in emergencies.
Proposed Penalties:
Individual Violators: Fine of ₦500,000
Corporate Offenders: Fine of ₦5,000,000
Vehicle Seizure: Impounded for up to 30 days
Provisions are made for vehicles transporting essential goods, such as medical supplies, or operating in public interest emergencies.
The bill aims to address the high rate of accidents caused by heavy-duty vehicles, reduce traffic congestion, and safeguard lives and property.
According to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), articulated vehicles, tankers, and trailers were responsible for 3,200 deaths between 2015 and 2018, with Nigeria losing over ₦39 billion to tanker and trailer-related accidents in 2018 alone.
Senator Nwoko highlighted the chaos on Nigerian roads caused by fuel tankers, cement trucks, and trailers carrying hazardous cargo, which compete with passenger vehicles during rush hours, leading to fatal accidents and severe economic losses.
The bill will proceed to a second reading, where the sponsor will present its general principles before moving to a public hearing stage.
