Dangote Alerts Marketers on Leaking Tanker Perils

The The leadership of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has delivered a strong caution to fuel dealers due to the increasing number of fuel tru...

TheThe leadership of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has delivered a strong caution to fuel dealers due to the increasing number of fuel trucks with leaks reaching its loading area, labeling this pattern as a significant safety risk to Africa's biggest refinery.

In an internal memo seen by Sunday PUNCH on Friday, the refinery mentioned it had noticed a "concerningly high" amount of tankers carrying goods that were in poor mechanical state, even after multiple warnings and penalties given to those responsible.

As stated in the notice issued by the refinery's Group Commercial Operations Department, multiple trucks are still arriving with damaged valves, unsecured connections, and leaking substances, situations that greatly increase the likelihood of fires at the multi-billion-dollar site.

The refinery stated that the situation "signals significant risk to the whole facility" and would no longer be tolerated. The message said, "It has been noted that the number of leaking trucks reaching the gantry is still high, even after multiple warnings and penalties imposed on each vehicle."

The trend has been rising daily, signaling significant risk to the whole refinery, and this will no longer be accepted. From now on, any tanker discovered leaking at the gantry will not only result in penalties but also subject the owner-marketer to serious consequences, including a temporary ban from loading activities at the refinery.

The circular stated, 'Any truck detected leaking at the gantry will face not only a fine, but the involved marketer may also suffer serious consequences, which could involve prohibiting him from conducting any further operations within the refinery for a set duration.'

It mentioned that the refinery is taking this action to "safeguard the facility from any threat" and anticipates complete adherence going forward. The Dangote refinery urged marketers to make sure that "only positive and safe trucks" are used for loading, emphasizing that no justification will be tolerated for safety breaches.

"We urge you to guarantee that only positive and safe trucks are used for your loading, and there should be no justification for any shortcomings," the refinery stated.

Nigeria's oil distribution system has faced ongoing challenges due to the use of outdated tankers, most of which do not pass safety inspections or receive adequate upkeep.

Regulatory bodies, such as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, have consistently advocated for stronger implementation of safety regulations and regular inspections. Nevertheless, enforcement is still inadequate, and numerous vendors keep using poorly maintained vehicles that present dangers at storage facilities and on public highways.

The refinery's more stringent approach follows a deteriorating tanker safety situation and an increase in tanker incidents across Nigeria. As per the Federal Road Safety Corps, there were at least 80 tanker fire explosions between January 2020 and January 2025, resulting in 555 fatalities and injuring many others.

These figures indicate a larger pattern: more than 100 tanker incidents have led to the death of over 1,500 individuals, as reported by the National Emergency Management Agency. In 2024 alone, 13 such explosions were said to have caused 85 deaths, according to the FRSC.

NEMA has also highlighted some of the most devastating recent events, such as a tanker explosion in October 2024 in Jigawa State that resulted in more than 150 fatalities. In January 2025, another tanker overturned and detonated near Dikko, Niger State, leading to 86 deaths, with many victims attempting to collect fuel from the debris.

The Federal Road Safety Corps also stated that 411 Nigerians lost their lives in 2024 while trying to collect fuel from overturned tankers, a risky activity that significantly increases the death toll.

Dangote Refinery's warning to exclude marketers who use low-quality tankers indicates a possible shift, as it may compel operators to update their vehicle fleets, implement more rigorous maintenance protocols, and follow fundamental safety regulations.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).