(SINL NIGERIA) The Senate on Tuesday considered for Second reading a bill for an Act to make provisions for regulation, safety of articulated vehicles in Nigeria.
Indeed, the bill was read for the first time on 26th November, 2024.
The bill seeks to make provisions for the regulation and safety of articulated vehicles in line with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Leading the debate on the bill on Tuesday, the sponsor, Senator Babangida Hussain Uba (Jigawa North-west) said the overriding intendment of the bill is to have a framework in place that seeks to ensure the reliability of vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of vehicle breakdown and minimizing road accidents
Specifically, he noted that the legislation seeks to establish a framework for the regular inspection, maintenance, and safety enforcement of articulated vehicles.
According to him, the bill, if passed, will help reduce road accidents and tanker explosions, which have claimed thousands of lives over the years.
“The overall intent of this bill is to ensure the reliability of vehicles, thereby minimizing road accidents and breakdowns,”
He highlighted objectives of the bill to include: regular inspections of articulated vehicles, the enforcement of maintenance standards, and measures to prevent tanker explosions, reduce incessant road accident and driver fatigue.”
He bemoaned that between January 2000 and October 2004, Nigeria recorded at least 169 fuel tanker accidents, resulting in 1,613 deaths.
Consequently, he stressed the urgency of implementing strict safety measures, particularly in light of recent tanker explosions in Jigawa, Lagos, and Niger states.
