FRSC Records 61.29% Drop in Tanker Deaths as Safe-to-Load Drive Pays Off

FRSC Records 61.29% Drop in Tanker Deaths as Safe-to-Load Drive Pays Off

JOEL OLADELE Abuja

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a 61.29 per cent reduction in tanker-related fatalities and a 15.53 per cent drop in crash severity index in 2025, attributing the improvement to the implementation of its Safe-to-Load Programme.

The Corps described the figures as one of its most significant safety achievements in recent years, saying the results reflect sustained enforcement, industry compliance and inter-agency collaboration aimed at reducing tanker and trailer crashes across the country.

The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, mni, disclosed this during the flag-off of the 2026 Technical Training for FRSC Desk Officers deployed to petroleum depots and terminals in Lagos.

He said the performance indicators confirm the effectiveness of a data-driven enforcement strategy introduced by the Corps to improve safety compliance in the petroleum haulage sector.

According to him, the Safe-to-Load Programme, introduced in 2015 in line with global standards on the transportation of dangerous goods, has significantly reshaped safety practices across the industry.

He noted that compliance with Class G Driver’s Licence requirements has risen from 58.2 per cent at inception to 99.4 per cent, while the installation of critical safety features such as API-standard leak-proof systems has reached 98.3 per cent.

“These figures reflect deliberate effort, sustained enforcement and strong collaboration across the petroleum distribution value chain,” he said.

Despite the gains, the Corps Marshal warned that the FRSC would not relax its enforcement standards, stressing that the goal remains zero fatalities on Nigerian roads.

He stated that any tanker failing to meet Safe-to-Load requirements would be denied loading access, while all tanker-related crashes would henceforth undergo comprehensive investigations covering depot operators, drivers and vehicle owners.

He also raised concerns over persistent violations such as tampering with speed limiting devices and poor vehicle maintenance, describing them as unacceptable risks to public safety.

“The era of impunity on Nigerian roads is over,” Mohammed declared, adding that the Safe-to-Load Programme had become a national safety imperative rather than a routine regulatory measure.

He urged operators, drivers and stakeholders in the petroleum logistics chain to fully comply with safety standards, noting that each prevented crash represents lives saved and economic losses avoided.

The FRSC said it will continue to strengthen technology-driven monitoring, expand capacity building for personnel, and deepen collaboration with key stakeholders in the oil and transport sectors.

These include the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), MEMAN, DAPPMAN, NARTO, NUPENG and IPMAN, among others.

The Corps reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining reforms aimed at improving road safety outcomes and eliminating tanker-related crashes nationwide.