The former Corp Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, has called on the Federal Government to implement a 25-year-old entry level for driving trucks in Nigeria in order to avert recurring tanker explosions in the country.

He also suggested that past recommendations for tanker crashes and explosions should be implemented.

Boboye stated this at a one-day seminar titled ‘Recurrent Tanker Explosions: CILT Nigeria Perspectives and Options,’ organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

He noted that 30-year-old trucks ferrying petroleum products are unfit and causing explosions in the country

The former FRSC boss also called on the federal government to implement a 6pm ban on trucks and tanker movement in a bid to avert recurring explosions in Nigeria.

Boboye identified the reintroduction of weighbridges on the roads to check axle load violations.

He said the trucks are moving litres far above their capacity daily, thereby leading to crashes.

“We must implement the 25-year-old entry level for driving trucks. The government must reintroduce weighbridges to check axle load violations by truck drivers and owners in order to put a lasting solution to recurring tanker explosions in Nigeria.

“It is important for the government to implement a 6pm ban on truck and tanker movement.

“Trucks moving this product are over 30 years of age and are not fit for Nigerian roads.

“A 30-year-old truck with a 99,000 capacity.

“What we need is the political will to implement past recommendations on tanker crashes and explosions.

“Also, now that the rail is working, the government sees the movement of petroleum products by rail as well as pipelines.

“Most truck owners cannot afford to buy brand new trucks and mostly, no training is required to be a certified driver except graduating from motorboy.”