The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has declared that the era of impunity on Nigeria’s highways is over, as the agency intensifies enforcement of safety regulations in the petroleum transport sector.
Mohammed made the assertion on Thursday at the flag-off of the 2026 Technical Training for FRSC Desk Officers implementing the Safe-to-Load Programme at petroleum depots and terminals in Lagos.
He said the training was designed to equip personnel with the capacity to enforce compliance and deepen safety culture across the high-risk petroleum haulage system.
“Compliance with safety regulations must be absolute and accountability must be enforced at all levels,” Mohammed said, urging officers and marshals to approach the training with dedication and professionalism.
The Corps Marshal emphasised that road transport remains the backbone of petroleum distribution in Nigeria, accounting for over 95 per cent of product movement, but warned that the system poses significant risks if not properly managed.
To address these risks, he noted that the Federal Government introduced the Safe-to-Load programme in 2015 and adopted global safety standards under the 1957 United Nations Agreement on the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.
According to him, these interventions are yielding measurable results. Operational reviews at the end of 2025 show compliance with valid driver licensing rose to 99.4 per cent from 58.2 per cent in 2015, while installation of leak-proof systems reached 98.3 per cent.
He added that 268 tanker-related crashes were recorded in 2025, with fatality and severity indices dropping by 61.29 per cent and 15.53 per cent respectively compared to 2024.
Despite the progress, Mohammed acknowledged persistent challenges, citing tragic incidents such as the Majia tanker explosion, Dikko Junction inferno, and the Indorama explosion as reminders of the dangers associated with petroleum transportation.
“These incidents underscore the need for sustained vigilance and continuous strengthening of the road safety management system,” he said.
Mohammed stressed that any tanker failing to meet Safe-to-Load requirements would not be permitted to load under any circumstance, while all crashes would be thoroughly investigated with accountability extended to all parties in the logistics chain, including depot operators, drivers, and vehicle owners.
He warned that tampering with speed-limiting devices or other critical safety systems would attract strict sanctions, including prosecution, adding that the corps would intensify monitoring through physical inspections and technology-driven compliance systems.
The FRSC boss also commended the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority for sustained collaboration in enhancing safety standards across the sector.
Earlier, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide said the training marks a significant step toward strengthening enforcement capacity.
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“Today, we are taking a bold step forward, equipping inspectors with advanced knowledge, technical skills, and enforcement strategies tailored specifically to the complexities of petroleum truck operations,” he said.
He added that the initiative reinforces the agency’s commitment to ensuring that petroleum transportation is conducted with the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
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