The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has announced that, effective October 1, 2025, its members will no longer load more than 45,000 litres of petroleum products per tanker. The move, the association says, is intended to enhance safety on Nigerian roads, reduce the risk of tanker accidents, and bring operations into alignment with emerging regulatory standards.
According to IPMAN’s national leadership, the decision follows a series of tragic highway incidents involving over-laden tankers, which have in recent years claimed lives and destroyed property. By capping loads at 45,000 litres, IPMAN aims to ensure that vehicles remain within their licensed gross vehicle weight, improving maneuverability and braking response under fully laden conditions.
IPMAN’s statement also pointed to ongoing discussions with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which have signalled support for measures that curb overloading of heavy goods vehicles. Industry stakeholders hope that the new load limit will dovetail with government efforts to upgrade fuel distribution infrastructure—including the construction of additional depots and strategic “load-and-dispatch” terminals—to reduce bottlenecks and long-distance hauls.
While some marketers have expressed concerns about potential increases in per-litre distribution costs, IPMAN insists that a more reliable, accident-free supply chain will, in the long run, stabilize pricing and safeguard both drivers and communities along major fuel corridors.
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