The management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has issued a stern warning to petroleum marketers over the rising number of leaking fuel trucks arriving at its loading gantry, describing the trend as a major safety threat to Africa’s largest refinery.
In an internal circular sighted by Sunday PUNCH on Friday, the refinery said it had observed a “disturbingly high” number of product-laden tankers arriving in poor mechanical condition, despite repeated warnings and fines imposed on offenders.
According to the notice signed by the refinery’s Group Commercial Operations Department, several trucks continue to show up with cracked valves, loose fittings, and dripping product, conditions that significantly heighten the risk of fire outbreaks at the multibillion-dollar facility.
The refinery warned that the situation “portends great danger to the entire refinery” and would no longer be condoned. The notice read, “It has been observed that the number of leaking trucks arriving at the gantry remains high, despite the repeated warnings and the fines imposed on each truck.”
“The trend has been on the increased daily, and this portends great danger to the entire refinery, and this will no longer be tolerated. Effective immediately, any tanker found leaking at the gantry will not only attract fines but will expose the owner-marketer to severe sanctions, including a temporary suspension from loading operations at the refinery.
“Any truck found leaking at the gantry will not only be fined, but the affected marketer will be severely sanctioned, which may include denying him further operational activities within the refinery for a specified period,” the circular stated.
It added that the refinery was taking the step to “protect the facility from any danger” and expects full compliance moving forward. Dangote refinery appealed to marketers to ensure that “only good and healthy trucks” are deployed for loading, stressing that no excuse will be accepted for safety violations.
“We appeal to you to ensure you present ONLY good and healthy trucks for your loading, and there should be no excuse for any failure,” the refinery said.
Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network has long struggled with the use of ageing tanker fleets, many of which fail safety checks or lack proper maintenance.
Regulators, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, have repeatedly pushed for stricter enforcement of safety standards and periodic inspections. However, enforcement remains weak, and many marketers continue to operate dilapidated trucks that pose threats both at depots and on public roads.
The refinery’s tougher stance comes against the backdrop of a worsening tanker safety crisis and proliferation of tanker accidents in Nigeria. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, there were at least 80 tanker fire explosions between January 2020 and January 2025, which claimed 555 lives and injured hundreds more.
These numbers reflect a broader trend: over 100 tanker accidents have killed more than 1,500 people, according to the National Emergency Management Agency. In 2024 alone, 13 such explosions reportedly resulted in 85 fatalities, according to the FRSC.
NEMA has also pointed to some of the most tragic recent incidents, including a tanker explosion in October 2024 in Jigawa State that killed over 150 people. In January 2025, a tanker overturned and exploded near Dikko, Niger State, killing 86 people, many of whom had tried to scoop fuel from the wreckage.
The Federal Road Safety Corps further revealed that 411 Nigerians died in 2024 while attempting to scoop fuel from fallen tankers, a dangerous practice that dramatically inflates casualty numbers.
Dangote Refinery’s threat to blacklist marketers using substandard tankers signals a potential turning point, as it could force operators to renew their fleets, enforce stricter maintenance, and adhere to basic safety standards.
Credit: punchng.com
