By Joy Odor
The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step towards improving road safety by considering a bill for an Act to regulate and ensure the safety of articulated vehicles in Nigeria.
The bill, ON THE ARTICULATED VEHICLE (SAFETY AND REGULATION) BILL, 2025 (SB. 655) which was first read on November 26, 2024, aimed to establish a framework for regular inspections, maintenance, and safety enforcement of articulated vehicles.
The Objectives of the Bill include:-
– _Regular Inspections_: Ensure articulated vehicles are roadworthy and meet safety standards.
– _Maintenance Standards_: Enforce strict maintenance standards to prevent vehicle breakdowns.
– _Preventing Tanker Explosions_: Implement measures to minimize the risk of tanker explosions.
– _Reducing Road Accidents_: Decrease the number of road accidents involving articulated vehicles.
– _Driver Fatigue Prevention_: Implement measures to prevent driver fatigue, a common cause of road accidents.
Senator Babangida Hussain Uba (Jigawa North-West) who sponsored the bill emphasized the urgent need for strict safety measures, citing the alarming number of fuel tanker accidents in Nigeria between 2000 and 2004, which resulted in 1,613 deaths.
“The overriding intendment of this Bill is to have a framework in place that seeks to ensure the reliability of vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of vehicle breakdown and minimizing road accidents. Consequently, the objectives of
the Bill are, to:
1. conduct regular inspections of articulated vehicles;
2. establish and enforce maintenance standards for articulated vehicles
3. reduce long-term maintenance costs;
4. minimise harmful exhaust emissions and protect the environment;
5. reduce incessant road accidents;
6. enforce strict standards for tanker design and construction to prevent
leaks and explosions;
7. conduct regular inspections and certification of tankers to ensure
compliance with safety standards;
implement measures to prevent drivers’ fatigue, by enforcing regular
breaks and rest periods; and
9. conduct public awareness campaigns to educate people on how to respond in case of a tanker explosion.
“The overriding intendment of this Bill is to have a framework in place that seeks to ensure the reliability of vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of vehicle breakdown and minimizing road accidents.
Consequently, the objectives of
the Bill are, to:
1. conduct regular inspections of articulated vehicles;
2. establish and enforce maintenance standards for articulated vehicles
3. reduce long-term maintenance costs;
4. minimise harmful exhaust emissions and protect the environment;
5. reduce incessant road accidents;
6. enforce strict standards for tanker design and construction to prevent leaks and explosions;
7. conduct regular inspections and certification of tankers to ensure
compliance with safety standards;
implement measures to prevent drivers’ fatigue, by enforcing regular
breaks and rest periods; and
9. conduct public awareness campaigns to educate people on how to respond in case of a tanker explosion.
“We witnessed a series of mishaps, resulting in Petroleum Tanker explosion in Jigawa, Lagos,
Dakwa and other States across the country.
“You will also agree with me that the persistent carnage on our roads, occasioned by haulage of petroleum products has made it imperative for a legislation of this nature to address and forestall future occurrence(s), hence the need for the Senate to support
the expeditious passage of this Bill in view of its importance.
