Fleet Management Best Practices and Their Application in Nigerian Federal Government Parastatals

Efficient fleet management is a prerequisite for minimising operational costs and maximising vehicle availability in government organisations that depend on transport assets for service delivery. This study examines fleet management practices in selected Nigerian federal government parastatals and evaluates the application of international best practices within the Nigerian public sector context. A professional survey design was adopted, collecting data from fleet managers and logistics officers in five federal agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Customs Service, and the Federal Ministry of Health, through structured questionnaires and facility inspections. The study evaluates vehicle acquisition policies, preventive maintenance schedules, fuel management systems, driver management practices, and disposal procedures. Findings reveal significant deviations from best practice, including the absence of preventive maintenance schedules in three of the five agencies, manual fuel tracking systems vulnerable to fraud, and over-aged fleet assets retained beyond economically justified service lives. Total vehicle downtime across the sampled agencies averages 35 percent, substantially reducing operational capacity. The study maps identified gaps against the ISO 39001 road traffic safety management framework and the United Kingdom Crown Commercial Service fleet management guidelines. Recommendations include the adoption of fleet management information systems, the introduction of a federal fleet asset management policy, and the mandatory disposal of vehicles exceeding 10 years of age. Keywords: fleet management, government parastatals, vehicle maintenance, fuel management, Nigeria.