555 Lives Lost as Shocking Tanker Crash Death Toll Sparks Fresh Safety Concerns

(Tanker Explosion. Photo Credit: PM News)

At least 555 people have l0st their lives in tanker-related road crashes across Nigeria between 2020 and early 2025, underscoring the heavy human toll of accidents involving articulated vehicles despite continued efforts to strengthen road safety.

This was disclosed in a statement by Osondu Ohaeri, Deputy Corps Commander and Corps Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who said the Corps has stepped up regulatory and enforcement measures aimed at curbing tanker and trailer crashes nationwide.

According to him, tanker and trailer operations remain among the riskiest segments of Nigeria’s road transport sector, with crashes frequently resulting in fuel explosions, multiple d£aths, property destruction and disruption to economic activity.

Ohaeri said the FRSC’s Safe-to-Load Programme, launched in 2015, has become a central intervention in tackling the problem by ensuring that only roadworthy tankers and properly qualified drivers are allowed to transport petroleum products and other heavy cargo.

He disclosed that compliance with the mandatory Class G driver’s licence among tanker drivers rose from 58.2 per cent in 2015 to 99.4 per cent by the end of 2025, reflecting stronger adherence to safety rules.

The statement further revealed that the Safe-to-Load initiative contributed to a 61.29 per cent drop in fatalities and a 15.53 per cent decline in the crash severity index in 2025 compared with earlier records.

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed was quoted as saying the programme was designed to foster a safer environment for tankers conveying petroleum products, noting that improved licensing compliance had boosted both safety outcomes and professionalism within the petroleum haulage industry.

Beyond vehicle inspection and driver certification, Ohaeri said the Corps has intensified enforcement of speed-limiting devices, leak-proof tank standards, retro-reflective markings, tyre safety and anti-overloading rules to tackle common causes of tanker crashes.

The statement added that the FRSC has expanded driver training programmes, embraced data-driven crash investigations and ramped up nationwide public enlightenment campaigns against fuel scooping, a dangerous practice that has worsened casualty figures in several tanker explosions, including the 2025 Suleja tragedy in which more than 100 people d!ed.

Despite these gains, Ohaeri identified ongoing challenges, including ageing tanker fleets, driver fatigue, insufficient truck rest areas and Nigeria’s heavy dependence on road transport for petroleum distribution, as obstacles to further reducing crashes.

He said sustained enforcement, improved infrastructure and stronger collaboration among government agencies, transport unions and industry stakeholders would be essential to saving more lives and improving the safety of tanker operations on Nigerian roads.