The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has issued a stern warning to petroleum marketers concerning the alarming number of leaking fuel tankers arriving at its loading facilities. The refinery has threatened to impose significant fines and possible operational suspensions on marketers whose vehicles fail to meet basic safety standards.
Safety Crisis at Loading Gantry
According to an internal circular from the Group Commercial Operations Department, the refinery has observed numerous trucks arriving with cracked valves, loose fittings, and active leaks at its gantry. This dangerous trend poses a major safety risk to the multi-billion-dollar facility, potentially leading to catastrophic fire incidents.
The circular explicitly stated that any tanker found leaking at the gantry will not only face financial penalties but may also result in the suspension of the marketer or truck owner from loading operations for a specified period. The refinery emphasized that these measures are necessary to protect the facility from potential disasters.
Nigeria's Broader Tanker Safety Crisis
This warning comes against the backdrop of Nigeria's long-standing fuel distribution safety issues, characterized by an aging tanker fleet and poor maintenance culture. Regulatory agencies including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have repeatedly pushed for stronger compliance, yet many trucks continue to operate without meeting basic safety requirements.
Recent data from the Federal Road Safety Corps reveals disturbing statistics: at least 80 tanker explosions occurred between January 2020 and January 2025, resulting in 555 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Broader figures from the National Emergency Management Agency indicate that more than 1,500 people have died in over 100 tanker accidents within the same period.
Tragic Incidents Highlight Urgency
The severity of the situation is underscored by several recent tragic incidents across Nigeria. In October 2024, a tanker explosion in Jigawa State claimed more than 150 lives. Another devastating accident occurred in January 2025 near Dikko, Niger State, where 86 people died while attempting to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker.
Most recently, in late October, at least 40 persons died in a tanker explosion along the Essa axis on Agaie-Bida Road in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State. The Federal Fire Service confirmed the death toll and noted that another 40 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The FRSC also reported that 411 Nigerians lost their lives in 2024 alone while trying to scoop fuel from fallen tankers, highlighting the dangerous practice that often follows these accidents.
Dangote Refinery has urged all marketers to deploy only roadworthy trucks for product lifting, emphasizing that collective responsibility is essential to prevent further tragedies and protect both lives and critical national infrastructure.
