Tanker explosion: FG urged to ban movement of trucks in daytime

File photo of a burning fuel tanker

The former Corp Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, has called on the Federal Government to implement a 6pm ban on trucks and tanker movement in a bid to avert recurring explosions in Nigeria.

Boboye stated this at a one-day seminar titled, ‘Recurrent Tanker Explosions: CILT Nigeria Perspectives and Options,’ organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

While attributing the cause of the recurring tanker explosions in Nigeria to unfit trucks ferrying petroleum products, He said there should be a political will to implement past recommendations for tanker crashes and explosions.

Oyeyemi hinted that most tankers are over 30 years old and move over 99,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in one trip.

Boboye identified the reintroduction of weighbridges on the roads to check axle load violations.

He said the trucks are moving litres far above their capacity daily, thereby, leading to crashes.

The former FRSC boss also noted that most tankers and truckers weren’t properly trained as they graduated from motor boys into drivers, having watched their predecessors for years.

Oyeyemi added that the government must implement the 25-year-old entry level for driving trucks.

“To put a lasting solution to recurring tanker explosions in Nigeria, it is important for the Government to implement a 6 pm ban on truck and tanker movement.

“Trucks moving this product are over 30 years of age and are not fit for Nigerian roads.

“A 30-year-old truck lifting 99,000 capacity.

“What we need is the political will to implement past recommendations of tanker crashes and explosions.

“Also, now that the rail is working, the government sees the movement of petroleum products by rail as well as pipelines.

“Most truck owners cannot afford to buy brand new trucks and mostly, no training is required to be a certified driver except graduating from motorboy.

“Also, we must implement the 25-year-old entry level for driving trucks. Government must reintroduce weighbridges to check axle load violations by truck drivers and owners,” he said.

Segun Kasali