Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) has expressed concerns over the Federal Government’s impending ban on large tankers carrying over 60,000 litres of petroleum products.
null The ban, set to take effect on March 1, 2025, aims to reduce accidents and explosions caused by overloaded trucks, which have claimed 493 lives in three years.
NARTO’s National President, Yusuf Othman, warned that the restriction would reduce the supply of petroleum products, especially in Northern Nigeria, which relies heavily on products transported from Southern depots. The ban will prevent trucks carrying more than 60,000 litres from loading at depots and traveling on federal roads, with further restrictions reducing the limit to 45,000 litres per truck by October 1, 2025.
Othman noted that NARTO is reviewing the situation and working closely with its members to assess potential financial losses, estimated at over N300 billion in investments. He 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.
The association is exploring options such as fabricating smaller tankers to comply with the new regulations and tapping into the Federal Government’s policy on Compressed Natural Gas and associated infrastructure development.
Othman raised concerns about the state of the nation’s roads, which contribute to fuel tanker accidents. He warned that the reduced capacity of trucks could lead to price fluctuations, driven by supply and demand.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and mitigate the impact of the ban on affected stakeholders. PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, stated that about 100,000 persons in the petroleum sector will be affected by the ban.
Industry expert Olatide Jeremiah described the government’s proposed ban as a misplaced priority, emphasizing that it would lead to a surge in the pump price of petrol in Northern Nigeria.