The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced that 60,000-litre fuel tankers will be prohibited from operating on Nigerian roads starting March 1, 2025. This measure is intended to reduce road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, emphasized the urgency of the decision, citing rising incidents of accidents and fatalities linked to these large trucks.
“No truck with over 45,000-litre capacity will be allowed to load petroleum products by the fourth quarter of 2025,” Ukoha said.
The decision was reached after deliberations with key stakeholders, including the Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN).
“This consensus is unprecedented, and we will continue to work together to ensure the safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” Ukoha added.
Fuel Quality Claims Rejected
Addressing claims about the poor quality of fuel circulating in Nigeria, Ukoha dismissed the allegations as misleading and unscientific. He assured Nigerians that both imported and locally refined petroleum products meet strict regulatory standards before distribution.
“Social media claims about the quality of fuel are baseless. Innocent Nigerians are discerning enough to reject these unscientific claims. As regulators, we are focused on ensuring product quality, fair pricing, and sufficient supply,” Ukoha said.
He highlighted that NMDPRA follows the specifications set by SON, which include parameters like Research Octane Number (RON), sulfur content, density, and oxygenate levels. He explained that hydrocarbons are inherently variable, and products must fall within acceptable regulatory limits before distribution.
Ukoha emphasized the importance of color differentiation in petroleum products to avoid misidentification, stating that only ATK (Aviation Turbine Kerosene) is colorless.
Drop in PMS Consumption Post-Subsidy
Ukoha also revealed that daily Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) supply, which averaged 66 million liters before the subsidy withdrawal in May 2023, has now dropped to around 50 million liters.
“Since the subsidy withdrawal, PMS consumption has declined. Less than 50% of the daily supply comes from domestic refineries, with the shortfall covered through imports,” he explained.
He confirmed that none of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) with local refineries have imported PMS this year, and the shortfall has been bridged by other OMCs to avoid fuel scarcity.
“Our priority is to ensure sufficient supply of petroleum products across the country,” Ukoha concluded.
Photo caption: Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), addresses the media on the ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers, fuel quality claims, and PMS consumption trends. Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Abuja.
Bello Wakili
