To ensure a lasting solution to the incessant truck accidents, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) is fostering collaboration among regulators, operators, and enforcement agencies to mitigate the increasing number of truck-related accidents on roads.
The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Mr Clement Isong, disclosed this to the media after a stakeholders meeting in Lagos on how road accidents involving trucks can be mitigated.
Isong who posited that the initiative followed an emergency stakeholders' meeting held to address the alarming rise in truck accidents and explosions on Nigerian roads, noted that the session brought together key stakeholders, including the Executive Secretary of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and MEMAN's Health, Safety, Security, Environment, and Quality (HSSEQ) committee, representing operators.
Other stakeholders, according to him, included the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the South-West Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), representing regulators.
Isong argued that the primary objective was to foster collaboration among regulators, operators, and enforcement agencies to mitigate the increasing number of truck accidents witnessed in 2024.
According to him, “This meeting is the first in a series of urgent actions aimed at addressing the recent spike in truck accidents and explosions.
"The analysis of some petroleum tanker-related crashes over the past four months revealed several root causes.”
He mentioned that these included deplorable road infrastructure, inexperienced drivers in oversized trucks, and a lack of truck maintenance, among others.
"Issues included drivers' mental alertness and attitudinal behaviour. Some trucks were fully loaded up to 66,000 litres, far exceeding safe limits. Inadequate maintenance practices led to mechanical (brake) failures," Isong said.
He noted that the stakeholders proposed several measures for operators to implement, driven by the industry’s commitment to self-regulation.
These measures included more stakeholder collaboration and increased engagement, especially with key stakeholders such as NMDPRA, NARTO, PTD, and FRSC.
Isong added that driver training, truck maintenance, and fleet renewal were also considered key factors.
The Executive Secretary revealed that the meeting also agreed to ensure "Mandatory annual training for all drivers at FRSC-approved centres, driven by the industry.
“Marketers are to turn down underage drivers, untrained drivers, and trucks that have not undergone inspection or failed the Safe-to-Load integrity checks at loading bays.
“Marketers must insist on biannual comprehensive integrity evaluations for all trucks transporting petroleum products at approved centres.
“Marketers should insist on phasing out old trucks and replacing them with new ones featuring modern safety measures such as ABS, anti-rollover, anti-spill, anti-skid, speed limiters, onboard computers, and cameras. Trucks over 15 years old should be repurposed for non-hazardous cargo."
Isong made public that stakeholders also emphasised technology integration in operations, with marketers ensuring that their trucks are fitted with onboard computers and tracking devices.
The MEMAN boss maintained that marketers were also enjoined to ensure the use of intelligent cameras and data from route surveys to enhance safety.
Isong said that stakeholders also enjoined marketers and transporters to establish centres to monitor truck movements, capable of immobilising trucks in emergencies.
"The control centres should be open 24/7 and are meant to enforce the journey management procedures, including flagging night driving, harsh braking, rest time, unauthorised parking, and speeding," he said.
Calling for road infrastructure advocacy, the MEMAN boss said that the industry agreed to share again the list of critical roads needing urgent repairs and redesign with relevant authorities.
On public awareness campaigns, Isong revealed that stakeholders agreed to conduct regular sensitisation programs for drivers on safe driving practices.
"The public is strongly advised to avoid scooping fuel when there is a truck accident," he advised.
On Bottom Loading Systems, he made public that marketers were to advocate for the introduction of bottom loading to reduce vapour emissions and enhance safety.
On earthing, he confirmed that stakeholders agreed that stations and drivers should ensure earthing and continuity in earthing cables/hoses during discharge at filling stations, just as he added that stations and drivers must avoid product discharge during thunderstorms.
Isong noted that stakeholders also considered driver welfare a key factor in ensuring safety, saying, "Transporters need to improve drivers' welfare to ensure the safe handling of trucks."
Speaking further, the MEMAN boss said that the industry was committed to continuing these collaborative efforts to ensure safer road transportation of petroleum products.
"Truck accidents and explosions must stop, and through these comprehensive measures, industry operators aim to significantly reduce the incidence of such catastrophic events," Isong said.
On his part, Mr Ibrahim Dimowo, Assistant Director/Head DSSRI, Southwest Zone, NMDPRA, affirmed that the actions before the authority included regulatory revisions.
In his words: “These included updates and enforcement of truck specifications and loading limits with a focus on safety.
“The authority would approve and implement new technologies for incident detection and monitoring. Ghere should be clear consequences for non-compliance with safety regulations.”
Emphasizing the need to ensure that all trucks are registered and assigned specific ullage permits, he said that there was a need to state what the tank size for petroleum products should be and ensure compliance.
Corroborating, Corps Commander of the FRSC, Lagos State Sector Command, Patrick Davou emphasised the need for strict enforcement of pre- and post-Safe-to-Load (STL) integrity inspections on trucks.
On driver certification and road safety initiatives, Davou said there was a need to verify driver qualifications during STL inspections and to collaborate on the 5-pillar road safety initiatives.
He called for the proper classification of drivers' licences for transporting hydrocarbons.
Stakeholders in attendance included the Corps Commander, Mr. Patrick Davou, FRSC - Corps Commander, Lagos State Sector Command, Mr. Ibrahim Dimowo, Assistant Director/Head DSSRI, Southwest Zone, NMDPRA, Olufemi Adewole, Executive Secretary, DAPPMAN, and Alhaji Lawal Othman Yusuf, President, NARTO.
Others are Mr Clement Isong, CEO, MEMAN, and Mr Gabriel Orukpe, Chairman, MEMAN HSSEQ Committee.
All rights reserved. This material and other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.
For advertising inquiries, please contact thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492. For news coverage or press releases, call 08022717838.
Post a Comment