The Sector Commander, Mr Steve Ayodele, made the disclosure in Makurdi yesterday at a town hall meeting with trailer and tanker drivers on crash prevention.
The sector commander stressed that unregulated driving hours, overloaded tankers, and inadequate safety inspections remain major contributors to accidents.
He called on participants, including drivers, community leaders, and government agencies, to commit to changing attitudes and protecting lives.
Mr. Babalola Sheba, Head of Operations, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), decried the environmental and health hazards associated with fuel scooping. He warned that fuel spills pollute the soil, water, and air, contaminate drinking water, and harm agriculture and aquatic life.
Sheba, who said that inhaling fuel fumes can also cause respiratory problems and skin irritation, stated that the agency had resolved to mandate the installation of anti-spill safety valves and speed limiters on all petroleum product tanker trucks.
He said that the agency had introduced a colour-coding system for fuel trucks.
He disclosed that light blue is for petrol, deep yellow and light blue for diesel, deep yellow for kerosene, black for aviation fuel, and deep green for biofuels.
Mr Emmanuel Ogbanje, State Coordinator, Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service, in Benue, emphasised that preventing fuel scooping required a culture of regular vehicle inspection, compliance with axle load regulations, and strict adherence to traffic laws.
Ogbanje said that safety was not a goal but a continuous process and urged drivers to always carry valid licences, avoid overloading, and report unsafe practices.
He called for increased public education and collaboration among stakeholders to build a culture of road safety across the state and beyond.
He called on participants, including drivers, community leaders, and government agencies, to commit to changing attitudes and protecting lives.
Mr. Babalola Sheba, Head of Operations, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), decried the environmental and health hazards associated with fuel scooping.
He warned that fuel spills pollute the soil, water, and air, contaminate drinking water, and harm agriculture and aquatic life.
Sheba, who said that inhaling fuel fumes can also cause respiratory problems and skin irritation, stated that the agency had resolved to mandate the installation of anti-spill safety valves and speed limiters on all petroleum product tanker trucks.
He said that the agency had introduced a colour-coding system for fuel trucks.
He disclosed that light blue is for petrol, deep yellow and light blue for diesel, deep yellow for kerosene, black for aviation fuel, and deep green for biofuels.
Mr Emmanuel Ogbanje, State Coordinator, Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service, in Benue, emphasised that preventing fuel scooping required a culture of regular vehicle inspection, compliance with axle load regulations, and strict adherence to traffic laws.
Ogbanje said that safety was not a goal but a continuous process and urged drivers to always carry valid licences, avoid overloading, and report unsafe practices.
He called for increased public education and collaboration among stakeholders to build a culture of road safety across the state and beyond.
