FRSC Records 61% Drop in Tanker Crash Fatalities as Safety Reforms Gain Momentum By Raymond Enoch
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says its sustained enforcement of safety regulations and strategic reforms has resulted in a significant reduction in tanker and trailer crash fatalities across Nigeria, with deaths declining by 61.29 per cent and the crash severity index dropping by 15.53 per cent in 2025.
The gains, driven largely by the Corps’ Safe-to-Load Programme, highlight what the FRSC describes as a transition from routine traffic enforcement to a comprehensive risk management approach for the nation’s high-risk haulage sector.
According to the Corps, tanker and trailer crashes have remained among the deadliest road safety challenges in Nigeria, with at least 555 people losing their lives between 2020 and early 2025 in tanker-related incidents.
Introduced in 2015, the Safe-to-Load initiative requires petroleum tankers to undergo mandatory safety inspections before loading, while ensuring that only roadworthy vehicles and professionally certified drivers transport petroleum products and other hazardous cargo.
The Corps said the initiative has significantly improved compliance within the petroleum haulage industry, with the percentage of tanker drivers possessing the mandatory Class G driver’s licence rising from 58.2 per cent in 2015 to 99.4 per cent by the end of 2025.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed said the programme was designed to guarantee a safer motoring environment for tankers conveying wet cargoes, noting that the latest results reflect sustained regulatory enforcement and productive collaboration with industry stakeholders.
He stated that the improved licensing compliance has enhanced professionalism, reduced operational risks and contributed directly to safer operations within the petroleum transportation sector.
Beyond driver certification, the FRSC has intensified enforcement of critical safety standards, including the installation of speed limiting devices, leak-proof tanker systems that comply with international standards, retro-reflective markings for improved night visibility, and stricter compliance with vehicle registration requirements.
The Corps has also strengthened enforcement against overloading, defective tyres and other safety violations identified as major causes of articulated vehicle crashes.
Recognising that human error remains a leading factor in road crashes, the FRSC has expanded training and retraining programmes for tanker and trailer drivers while supporting industry-wide certification initiatives such as the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operations (MISTDO).
The Corps has equally institutionalised post-crash investigations to identify root causes of accidents and shape evidence-based policy interventions, enforcement priorities and public safety campaigns.
As part of efforts to reduce secondary casualties, the FRSC has intensified nationwide public enlightenment campaigns warning against the dangerous practice of fuel scooping following tanker crashes—a recurring tragedy that has claimed hundreds of lives, including the devastating Suleja tanker explosion in 2025.
The agency said its strategy is being implemented through close collaboration with petroleum regulatory agencies, transport unions including NARTO and NUPENG, security agencies and state traffic management authorities to strengthen safety compliance throughout the petroleum haulage value chain.
Despite the encouraging progress, the FRSC acknowledged persistent challenges, including an ageing fleet of haulage vehicles, driver fatigue arising from long-distance operations, inadequate truck rest areas and Nigeria’s heavy dependence on road transportation for petroleum distribution.
Nevertheless, the Corps maintained that sustained enforcement, improved infrastructure and stronger stakeholder collaboration remain critical to consolidating the gains already recorded.
According to the FRSC, safer tanker and trailer operations are essential not only for reducing road crashes but also for safeguarding lives, protecting property and supporting Nigeria’s economic stability.
