The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has announced a major policy shift that will take effect from October 1, 2025, restricting all petroleum tankers in the country from loading more than 45,000 litres of petroleum products per trip. This decision marks a significant move towards enhancing safety, compliance, and roadworthiness standards within the downstream oil sector.
In an official statement released on Friday, IPMAN explained that the new regulation is aimed at curbing overloading, which has been a recurring issue linked to road accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and premature damage of key highway infrastructure. The association noted that many marketers and transporters often exceed safe loading limits, putting the lives of drivers and other road users at risk.
“The 45,000-litre cap is a strategic move to prioritize safety and efficiency in the movement of petroleum products across the country,” the statement read. “From October 1, 2025, no truck, regardless of capacity, will be allowed to load beyond this limit from any depot nationwide.”
IPMAN also emphasized that the new policy aligns with federal safety regulations and recommendations from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The decision was made after wide consultations with stakeholders across the petroleum distribution chain, including depot owners, logistics providers, and safety regulators.
Tankers that fail to comply with the new rule risk being blacklisted from all IPMAN-approved depots, and their operators may face sanctions, including license suspension and fines. Depot operators have been instructed to recalibrate loading mechanisms and enforce compliance ahead of the deadline.
Reacting to the announcement, some tanker drivers have expressed concern over the potential financial implications, fearing it could increase the number of trips required for deliveries and affect profit margins. However, safety advocates and industry observers have lauded the move as long overdue, describing it as a positive step toward reducing the frequent fire accidents and tanker crashes on Nigerian highways.
IPMAN urged all stakeholders to begin preparations to meet the October 2025 deadline and reiterated its commitment to fostering a safer and more efficient petroleum distribution system across the country