The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) have intensified efforts to reduce petroleum tanker-related accidents through a nationwide Safe-To-Load (S-T-L) training programme for enforcement officers.

The initiative, which is part of a long-standing partnership between both organisations dating back to 2019, is aimed at strengthening safety compliance across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and improving road safety outcomes.

Speaking during the South-South regional training session held in Port Harcourt, MEMAN’s Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Clement Isong, represented by Operations Manager, Moses Okoh, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting safety standards in the transportation of petroleum products.

He noted that the Safe-To-Load initiative aligns with the global UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, which seeks to significantly reduce road traffic fatalities and injuries.

According to him, achieving lasting reductions in tanker-related crashes will require deliberate attention to the five strategic pillars of the UN framework, including safer road infrastructure, safer vehicles, responsible road user behaviour, improved post-crash response, and strengthened road safety management.

Isong emphasized that sustained collaboration between regulators, enforcement agencies, and industry stakeholders remains critical to addressing the persistent challenge of petroleum truck accidents on Nigerian roads.

He also commended key stakeholders who participated in the opening of the South-South training session, including the South-South Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Ibrahim Dimowo; the Assistant Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Henry Banemesia; and the Rivers State Sector Commander, F. A. Ajatta.

The officials jointly declared the training open on Monday, April 13, 2026, while also praising facilitators for equipping FRSC desk officers with the technical knowledge required for effective enforcement of Safe-To-Load regulations.

The 2026 S-T-L training programme, which commenced in Lagos on April 9, is currently ongoing in Port Harcourt and is scheduled to conclude in the Federal Capital Territory on April 17.

Meanwhile Industry observers say the programme is expected to significantly enhance compliance among petroleum haulage operators and reduce the frequency of tanker-related crashes, which have remained a major concern for road safety authorities in Nigeria.