The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have said the devastating tanker accident on the Karu Bridge in Abuja was linked to brake failure, according to preliminary reports.
The chief executive and programme director of the PCNGI, Michael Oluwagbemi, visited the accident site on Thursday, accompanied by officials from the NMDPRA and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), who are conducting independent investigations into the incident.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, involved a bi-fueled petrol tanker and resulted in multiple vehicle fires and significant damage to nearby structures.
Oluwagbemi, called for increased road safety awareness
As well as stricter monitoring and enforcement of maintenance regulations for articulated trucks, particularly regarding brake systems and overall vehicle integrity.
He also highlighted the necessity of a well-structured licensing regime for commercial drivers that includes rigorous safety and emergency response training.
The PCNGI reaffirmed its stance on the intrinsic safety of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, urging stakeholders to remain patient as authorities work to determine the root cause of the accident.
Oluwagbemi noted that the proposed launch of the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) will help strengthen oversight and ensure the safer adoption of CNG-powered vehicles across the country.
“As we transition towards cleaner and more affordable energy solutions, safety must remain a top priority.
“PCNGI remains committed to promoting alternative fuel sources that are not only cost-effective but also safer and more sustainable for Nigeria’s economic development,” he said.
He expressed deep sorrow over the accident, offering condolences to the affected families and urging the public to await the outcome of a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary accounts suggest that a possible brake system failure led to the explosion of the petrol storage tank. The FRSC also attributed the crash to brake failure, which triggered a chain reaction involving 18 vehicles.
On his part, the executive director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, who led a team from the Authority to the site on a fact finding mission, noted the accident happened due to brake failure of a CNG powered truck transporting cement.
Ukoha said the Authority and other relevant stakeholders were working together to ensure a reduction of Truck-in-Transit incidents.
Recall that Nigeria has banned 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on its roads, effective March 1, 2025. This decision, reached by the NMDPRA and major stakeholders, aims to reduce truck-related accidents and fatalities, which have increased significantly in recent years. Additionally, from the fourth quarter of 2025, no truck with a capacity exceeding 45,000 litres will be allowed to load petroleum products.
