Tanker-related incidents account for over 555 deaths nationwide, as FRSC pushes back

By Editor

Tanker-related incidents accounted for at least 555 deaths nationwide between 2020 and early 2025 alone, underscoring the urgency of sustained intervention on Nigerian roads, where articulated vehicle crashes have long ranked among the deadliest hazards facing motorists and communities alike.

From catastrophic fuel explosions to high-impact multi-vehicle collisions, tanker and trailer operations represent one of the most critical yet perilous segments of Nigeria’s road transport ecosystem. The consequences — lost lives, destroyed property, and disrupted economic activity — have for decades demanded a coordinated national response.

That response has come, increasingly, from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which has deployed a multi-pronged strategy targeting tanker and trailer crashes, with measurable results now beginning to surface.

Central to the FRSC’s approach is the Safe-to-Load Programme, launched in 2015 as a regulatory framework to ensure that only roadworthy tankers and fully certified drivers are permitted to transport petroleum products and heavy cargo across Nigerian roads.

Under the scheme, vehicles undergo mandatory pre-loading inspections at tank farms. Only trucks meeting established safety standards are cleared for operations, and drivers must hold valid licences alongside competence certification — directly addressing root causes historically linked to crashes: mechanical failure, overloading, and unqualified operators.

The results after a decade of enforcement are striking. Compliance with the Class G drivers’ licence requirement among tanker drivers rose from 58.2 percent in 2015 to 99.4 percent by the end of 2025 — a near-total turnaround in professional standards across the sector.

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed described the milestone as a validation of the programme’s design. “The Safe-to-Load initiative was designed to ensure a safe motoring environment for tankers conveying wet cargoes, and recent outcomes reflect sustained regulatory enforcement and strong stakeholder collaboration,” he said.

He added that improved licensing compliance “has directly contributed to enhanced safety outcomes, reduced operational risks, and increased professionalism within the petroleum haulage sector.”

Beyond licensing, the FRSC recorded a 61.29 percent reduction in fatalities and a 15.53 percent decline in the crash severity index in 2025, figures the Corps attributes directly to the Safe-to-Load programme’s implementation.

On the enforcement front, the Corps has scaled up requirements for articulated vehicles, mandating the installation of speed-limiting devices, API-standard leak-proof systems, and retro-reflective tapes for improved night visibility. Robust enforcement mechanisms against overloading and defective tyres have also been activated, targeting common crash triggers including excessive speed, poor visibility, and brake failure.

Recognising that human error remains a primary crash factor, the FRSC has prioritised capacity building for tanker and trailer drivers through regular training and retraining programmes. Complementary initiatives such as the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operations (MISTDO) deepen safety education across the petroleum transport chain.

The Corps has also institutionalised post-crash investigation mechanisms, using findings to shape policy adjustments, enforcement priorities, and public safety advisories — ensuring interventions are preventive rather than merely reactive.

Public behaviour has emerged as another area of concern, particularly the life-threatening practice of fuel scooping during tanker incidents. The FRSC has intensified awareness campaigns through television commercials, radio jingles, talk shows, and community sensitisation efforts — a response made more urgent by the 2025 tragedy near Suleja, where over 100 lives were lost in a tanker explosion.

The FRSC’s strategy is anchored in partnerships spanning petroleum regulatory agencies, transport unions including NARTO and NUPENG, security agencies, and state traffic management bodies. This integrated approach enforces safety compliance across the entire logistics chain, from loading points to open highways.

Despite the progress, structural challenges persist. An aging national haulage fleet, driver fatigue from long-distance operations, a shortage of roadside rest areas, and Nigeria’s heavy dependence on road transport for petroleum distribution continue to strain safety efforts.

Officials acknowledge these realities even as they point to the shift now underway — from routine enforcement to systemic risk management. By combining regulation, technology, driver training, and public education, the Corps says it is steadily reducing both the frequency and severity of tanker crashes on Nigerian roads.

“Sustaining these gains will depend on continuous enforcement, infrastructure improvement, and deeper collaboration across stakeholders,” the Corps noted in its assessment.

Ultimately, the FRSC frames safer tanker and trailer operations not merely as a regulatory objective, but as a national imperative — one bound up with public safety, economic stability, and the irreplaceable value of human life.