The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a ban on fuel tankers exceeding 60,000 litres from operating on Nigerian roads.

The ban is expected to take effect from 1 March 2025, as revealed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.

The agency also specified that, by the fourth quarter of 2025, no truck with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres will be permitted to load petroleum products.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, stated that the decision was made in response to the rising number of road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers.

“The first stakeholders’ technical committee met today to establish timelines for about 10 resolutions aimed at addressing the significant increase in truck transit incidents and fatalities,” he said.

According to him, after deliberations involving key agencies—including the Department of State Services, DSS, Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, and NMDPRA—it was agreed that from 1 March 2025, any truck with an axle load exceeding 60,000 litres of hydrocarbons will not be allowed to load at any depot.

“The key point here is that, for the first time, consensus was reached among all stakeholders, and we will continue to work together cohesively to ensure the safe transportation of petroleum products across the country,” he said.

Ukoha dismissed recent claims questioning the quality of fuel in circulation across the country, describing them as bogus, misleading, and unscientific.

He assured Nigerians that all imported and locally refined petroleum products meet strict regulatory standards before being released into the market.

The regulator vowed to ensure compliance with petroleum industry standards and specifications, stressing that recent social media claims about the quality of fuel products in circulation are baseless and should be disregarded.

“The regulator would usually be more circumspect and not respond to every comment made in public,” he said.

A businesswoman, Woye Ella, on Tuesday prayed an FCT Customary Court in Garki, Abuja, to dissolve her marriage over her husband’s alleged attempt to set her on fire.

Ella’s prayer is contained in a divorce petition she filed against her husband in the court.

According to the petitioner, her husband usually overreacts over little provocation.

She submitted that sometimes her husband would become very hostile and chase her with a dangerous object like a screwdriver and knife.

“It got to a point that he poured petrol on me to set me on fire, it was my neighbours who saved my life that day.

“He was overwhelmed by our neighbours and was taken to a nearby police station where he was detained for four days, till his father came from the village to intervene.

“When he was asked the reason for his actions, he couldn’t mention anything tangible,” she said.

Ella also told the court that she eventually moved out of the house for fear of being killed by her estranged spouse.

She prayed the court to order her husband to vacate the apartment in which they were living, prior to her exit.

The petitioner also claimed that she is the owner of the property.

“I bought the land and built the house myself,” she said.

The respondent, who is a tiler, and simply identified by his first name, Joseph, however denied all his wife’s allegations.

The presiding judge, Festus Enomhonse, adjourned the matter until Feb. 24, for hearing.

Gunmen suspected to be armed bandit have attacks some communities in Kwande Local Government Area killing 19 persons.

Our correspondent gathered that the attack started on Saturday, February 15, 2025, with 16 farmers killed and their bodies thrown to River Katsina Ala.

A local from Kwande Community who didn’t want to be named for fear of being attacked said the framers were from Mbandwa ward in Kwande LGA.

He said, “The farmers were returning to their community in Mbandwa ward when they were ambushed along Kashimbila road and killed.

“Their bodies were dropped in River Katsina Ala.”

It was also gathered that three persons were killed in another attack on Monday afternoon, January 17, 2024 at Boaguwa in Kumakua council ward in same Kwande was said to have claimed three lives.

The local also told newsmen that the area is deserted as residents of the communities have fled to Jato Aka for safety.

The President General of Mzough U Tiv worldwide and leader of the three socio cultural groups; (Mzough U Tiv, Opiatoha K’idoma and Ominy’Igede, CP. Iorbee Ihagh rtd, confirmed the attack saying all the six council wards in Turan have been deserted.

Ihagh, a retirement Comptroller of Prisons, a native of Kwande, who spoke from Jato Aka on Monday evening said the 16 farmers were killed on Saturday and their bodies thrown into River Katsina Ala.

He said, “I’m right now in Jato Aka. I was told that 16 farmers were killed along Kashimbila road at the weekend and their bodies thrown into River Katsina Ala.

“As am talking to you now, armed herders have attacked Boaguwa in Kumakua council ward, three dead bodies have been recovered.

“People have fled their communities and ran to Jato Aka, I doubt if this place (Jato Aka) is safe right now.

Ihagh who claimed that all the six council wards in Turan in Kwande LGA have been over run by suspected armed herders appealed to President Bola Tinubu to deploy more troops to the local government.

As at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Benue Command, CSP Catherine Anene promise to return calls made to her phone.

Daily Sun