Senate considering bill to regulate articulated vehicle safety – Sen Babangida

The Nigerian Senate is reviewing a bill aimed at regulating and enhancing safety standards for articulated vehicles to reduce fatalities from highway accidents.

Senator Babangida Hussaini, representing Jigawa Northwest senatorial district, disclosed this in an interview in Dutse. He cited data showing that over 1,613 Nigerians have died in 169 fuel tanker explosions recorded between June 2009 and October 2024.

“The bill was read for the first time in November 2024,” Hussaini said. “It aims to make provisions for the regulation and safety of articulated vehicles in line with the constitution.”

Hussaini, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), led the debate on the general principles of the Articulated Vehicles Safety Regulations Bill 2025 during plenary on March 19, 2025.

He stated that one of the bill’s key provisions is to mandate vehicle inspections every six months to ensure roadworthiness.
“This is necessary because most accidents on our roads are caused by the negligence of vehicle owners and drivers who do not prioritize vehicle maintenance as long as the vehicles are operational,” he said.

Hussaini emphasized the urgency of passing the bill, referencing recent tanker explosions in Jigawa, Lagos, and Niger states.

“The persistent carnage caused by the haulage of petroleum products has made it imperative for legislation of this nature,” he added.

He urged the Senate to expedite the bill’s passage, stating that its implementation would not impose any additional financial burden on the government but would rely on enforcement by existing regulatory agencies.