Year-End Rush: NMDPRA Warns Petroleum Operators Against Unsafe Practices
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Abeokuta field office, has called on stakeholders in the petroleum sector to prioritise safety and avoid impatience as activities increase towards the end of the year.
The state coordinator of NMDPRA, Abeokuta Field Office, Dr. Akinyemi Atilola, gave the urge during a stakeholders’ sensitisation engagement on End-of-Year Petroleum Products Handling, held on Thursday in Abeokuta.
Akinyemi, while addressing participants on the theme: Impatience in Petroleum Supply and Distribution Operations: Assessing The Risks And Dangers Ahead of The Festive Season, noted that patience has sent many people drivers to their early graves.
Akinyemi noted that the end-of-year period was often characterised by heightened demand for petroleum products, long queues, increased commercial activities and pressure on operators, which sometimes result in unsafe practices and accidents.
He added that incidents recorded during the festive period were mostly linked to impatience, panic buying, unsafe storage of products and improper handling by marketers and transporters.
“Each year, this period brings its peculiar challenges: the rush to meet delivery targets, pressure from customers, long queues, and in some cases, panic buying and unsafe storage.
“Unfortunately, these pressures sometimes lead to unsafe practices, accidents, product losses, and even loss of lives.
“Today’s engagement is, therefore, designed to sensitise and remind all stakeholders, marketers, tanker drivers, LPG dealers, depot operators, and security agencies of the need to exercise restraint, maintain discipline, and prioritise safety above profit or speed”he said
Akinyemi, stressed that safety and compliance remain shared responsibilities, adding that the NMDPRA goal is to achieve 100 per cent compliance and zero accidents across Ogun State and beyond.
“At the NMDPRA, our message remains consistent: Safety and compliance are shared responsibilities. The Authority is not out to impose penalties, but to ensure 100% compliance and zero accidents across all operations.
“We believe that collective vigilance and patience can make this season accident-free in Ogun State and beyond.
“Our key message is: let us slow down and act safely. Impatience can cost lives, the environment and investments,” he said.
He however urged marketers, tanker drivers, LPG dealers, depot operators and security agencies to maintain discipline and strictly adhere to safety standards.
Engr. Chibuzo Akubueze, Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC), NMDPRA Abeokuta, who delivered a presentation titled Safety on Roads and Expressways.
Chibuzo identified human error as the major cause of tanker crashes, accounting for about 85 per cent of incidents.
He noted that other contributing factors include mechanical failures, overloading, poor road infrastructure, harsh weather conditions and non-compliance with safety regulations.
He stressed the need for continuous training, defensive driving, regular vehicle checks, strict monitoring to prevent drug use, and adequate rest for drivers as safety measures to prevent accidents and loss of lives.
He called for stronger collaboration among NMDPRA, FRSC, TRACE, IPMAN, PTD, MOMAN and other critical stakeholders to curb tanker-related incidents.
Also speaking in his goodwill message the Deputy Director of the Ogun State Fire Service, Mr Adebambo Adesanya, called on NMDPRA to organise dedicated training sessions for tanker drivers to enhance their emergency response capacity.
Adesanya urged drivers to always equip their vehicles with functional fire extinguishers and prioritise carefulness, good health and concentration while on the road.
He appealed to tanker drivers to avoid excessive trips driven by the rush to make money during festive periods, warning that such practices compromise safety.
The Assistant Director of the Weights and Measures Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Abdullahi Bala, encouraged stakeholders to remain vigilant and uphold road safety standards.
He urged them to “say something when they see something,” especially when they observe practices that violate oil and gas regulations or endanger public safety.
