Nigeria’s rising number of tanker truck accidents and explosions is alarming the fuel industry. The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) is taking charge by bringing together regulators, operators, and law enforcement to tackle the issue.
Mr Clement Isong, MEMAN’s Executive Secretary, made the announcement to the media during the stakeholders meeting in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to Isong, the effort stemmed from an emergency stakeholders conference conducted to address what he described as an alarming increase in truck accidents and explosions on Nigerian roadways.
They recently held a meeting in Lagos to brainstorm solutions. They identified several causes including bad roads, inexperienced drivers handling oversized trucks, and poor truck maintenance.
The solution is multifaceted and involves a commitment from all parties.
MEMAN proposes increased collaboration among industry groups, regulators, and enforcement agencies. Specifically, they want to work with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and tanker drivers.
They also have plans to make driver training mandatory, requiring annual training at FRSC-approved centers. Additionally, they want to see stricter enforcement of truck inspections and a phase-out of older trucks. Newer trucks would be required to have modern safety features like anti-lock brakes, anti-rollover technology, and speed limiters.
Mr. Ibrahim Dimowo, Assistant Director/Head DSSRI, Southwest Zone, NMDPRA, mentioned that among the measures before the authority were modifications to regulations.
According to Dimowo, among them were safety-focused modifications and enforcement of loading restrictions and truck specifications.
He stated that new technologies for incident detection and monitoring would be approved and implemented by the authority in terms of monitoring and evaluation.
Technology will also play a role. MEMAN wants to see trucks equipped with onboard computers and tracking devices. Intelligent cameras and route surveys will be used to improve safety as well. They also propose establishing 24/7 monitoring centers to track truck movements and immobilize them in emergencies.
The FRSC is emphasizing stricter enforcement of truck inspections and driver qualifications. They also want to see proper classification of driver’s licenses for transporting hazardous materials.
Why this matters
This is a serious issue in Nigeria. Recent tanker explosions have caused multiple deaths and property damage. By working together, the industry hopes to prevent these tragedies from happening again.
What they’re saying
“In order to enforce the travel management protocols, which include reporting night driving, hard braking, rest periods, illegal parking, and speeding, the control centers should be operational around-the-clock”
“Truck explosions and accidents have to end, and industry operators hope to greatly lower the frequency of these disastrous occurrences with these all-encompassing steps, Isong argued”.
Bottom Line
MEMAN believes these comprehensive measures will significantly reduce tanker accidents and explosions. The NMDPRA is also taking action, focusing on enforcing truck specifications and loading limits, as well as implementing new technologies for monitoring accidents.
