Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) has reaffirmed its commitment to operational efficiency and road safety by retraining its fleet of truck drivers, a move aimed at promoting safe driving habits and reducing road incidents across Nigeria.
Speaking at the 2025 Annual Drivers’ Retreat themed “Absolute Safer Road Policy”, Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement, Arvind Pathak, said safety remains central to the company’s operations as one of Nigeria’s largest cement manufacturers with thousands of trucks on the road.
“The yearly training is designed to remind our drivers of the brand’s core values and ensure their commitment to our Absolute Safer Road Policy,” Pathak explained.
The retreat held at the Ibese Plant in Ilaro, Ogun State, attracted more than 900 drivers, while another round of training has been scheduled for Obajana, Kogi State, next week.
Pathak said Dangote Cement remains committed to road safety, ethical conduct, and transparency, adding that the company routinely collaborates with the Nigeria Police and other authorities to investigate incidents and implement safety recommendations.
He stressed that all Dangote drivers undergo a rigorous recruitment and training process before employment. This includes possession of a valid Class G driver’s license, guarantor verification, comprehensive medical checks, vision and blood pressure tests, random drug and alcohol screenings, and a two-week intensive training covering 12 safety modules, driving assessments, and written exams.
“In the past two months alone, over 2,000 prospective drivers have completed this process. Only those who meet all required standards are certified to operate Dangote vehicles,” Pathak said.
He added that beyond recruitment, all drivers must undergo pre-trip medical checks by licensed doctors and nurses, with routine random drug testing across operations to enforce a zero-tolerance policy on substance use.
Pathak further pledged that the company would continue to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other regulatory agencies to standardize and improve training, monitoring, and compliance processes.
Also addressing the drivers, Dangote Industries Limited’s Group Chief, Health, Safety, Social and Environment Officer, Dr. James Adenuga, emphasized that the retraining was not only to enforce safety rules but also to communicate them in a way drivers clearly understand.
He highlighted that recruitment into the company’s fleet requires at least a secondary school certificate, English literacy, two to five years’ driving experience, and clean records on substance use, among other conditions.
“We also partner with FRSC to train and prepare our drivers for professional driving. In addition, we run recognition programs that reward drivers who demonstrate discipline and good behavior on the road,” Adenuga added.
A Road Safety Expert, Mr. Oje Ebhota, who delivered a paper on safe driving, urged drivers to avoid aggressive or impatient driving, the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, drinking alcohol while driving, and disobeying traffic signs.
He warned against dangerous overtaking and advised drivers to maintain the recommended speed limit of 60km per hour to prevent accidents.
“Drivers are the ambassadors of Dangote Group. Aside from being ambassadors, you are also stakeholders who must consider other road users as important while on the road,” Ebhota said.
