The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) banned trucks carrying above 60,000 liters of hydrocarbon products from loading depots on March 1, 2025.
No vehicle carrying more than 45,000 litres of petroleum products will be allowed to load from depots starting in Q4 2025.
A briefing in Abuja by Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure Ogbugo Ukoha disclosed this.
He said the announcement followed the Authority’s meeting with industry stakeholders over overloaded petroleum product truck accidents and explosions.
He said, “Beginning 1st March, trucks with capacity in excess with 60,000 litres will not be allowed to load in any loading depot of petroleum products.
“By Q4 2025, we will also go to preclude the loading of transportation of petroleum products of any truck in excess of 45,000 litres. That is the breaking news for today.
“Breaking news about that today is that in today’s meeting comprising DSS, FERMA, Federal Fire Service, Road Safety, NARTO, NUPENG, MEMAN, PETROAN, IPMAN, DAPMAN, SON.”
Ukoha said NNPCL has not imported PMS fuel this year. After press claims that the state-owned oil corporation imported PMS burns faster than Dangote Refinery, the confirmation came.
The NMDPRA stated all petroleum imports this year are standard quality. It noted that national petrol consumption dropped from 66 million liters (ml/d) to 50 ml/d once the subsidy was removed.
According to him, domestic refineries meet less than 60% of national consumption, while Oil Marketing Companies import the rest.
Local refineries contributed less than 60% in January and February 2025, he said.
The Executive Director claimed imports account for 50% of the gap. None of the OMCs with refineries imported petroleum products this year, he said.
He added the NMDPRA requires all petroleum products to fulfill SON and PIA 2021 standards.
The Authority prohibits the distribution of low-quality products, he said.
Ukoha claimed social media users are making false product quality claims.
He explained that regulators are normally circumspect and don’t respond to every public criticism. Social media users should be cautioned that assuming Nigerians are gullible is insulting.
Sincere Nigerians know to channel their energies positively. Unscientific statements and fake data expertise claims are not helping.
In compliance with presidential and statutory mandates, he said they are working hard to support local refineries to build capacity so Nigerians have enough products and transparent, competitive, and fair pricing.