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Senate Considers Bill to Regulate Articulated Vehicles, Enhance Road Safety
The Nigerian Senate has commenced deliberations on the Articulated Vehicle Regulation Bill, 2025 (SB 655), aimed at improving the safety and regulation of articulated vehicles and fuel tankers across the country.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Senator Babangida Hussain Uba (jigawa Northwest) noted that the legislation seeks to establish a framework for the regular inspection, maintenance, and safety enforcement of articulated vehicles. According to him, the bill, if passed, will help reduce road accidents and tanker explosions, which have claimed thousands of lives over the years.
“The overall intent of this bill is to ensure the reliability of vehicles, thereby minimizing road accidents and breakdowns,” Senator Babaji stated. “Key provisions include regular inspections, the enforcement of maintenance standards, and measures to prevent tanker explosions and driver fatigue.”
Citing past incidents, the senator disclosed that between June 2000 and October 2004, Nigeria recorded at least 169 fuel tanker accidents, resulting in 1,613 deaths. He stressed the urgency of implementing strict safety measures, particularly in light of recent tanker explosions in Jigawa, Lagos, and Niger states.
During the plenary, other senators voiced support for the bill, with some advocating additional measures to regulate the movement of tankers and trailers. Senator saliu Mustapha (kwara central) suggested that Nigeria should adopt policies from other countries where heavy-duty vehicles are restricted to nighttime operations to ease traffic congestion and reduce accidents.
“In some countries, tankers and heavy-duty trucks are only allowed on the roads between midnight and early morning. This minimizes traffic congestion and prevents deadly crashes,” one senator argued.
The bill also proposes mandatory biannual vehicle inspections to ensure roadworthiness, enforcement of strict design standards for tankers, and public awareness campaigns on responding to tanker accidents.
The Senate is expected to expedite the legislative process to address the increasing risks posed by articulated vehicles on Nigerian roads.
However, the bill was referred to the Committee on Transportation, which is expected to report back to the Senate.
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