Dangote Industries Limited has denied any affiliation with the truck involved in Wednesday’s fatal crash along the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway, which claimed at least ten lives and left several others injured.
Initial reports suggested the Howo truck, which was loaded with cement and bore the branding of Dangote, belonged to the company.
However, in a statement released on Wednesday, Dangote Group clarified that the vehicle was not part of its official fleet but operated by a third-party company, Visco Investment Global Limited.
“We are engaging with the appropriate agencies to determine why a truck not belonging to us was bearing our logo,” the company stated.
“Going forward, stricter measures will be implemented to prevent the misuse of our brand identity.”
The company stressed that although it generally avoids public commentary on isolated incidents, it was compelled to address this case due to the “widespread misinformation” linking the crash to the conglomerate.
“It is our policy not to comment on individual incidents. However, the repeated association of unrelated accidents with our name necessitates this clarification,” the statement read.
“We urge the public and media outlets to verify claims before publication to avoid further spreading of false narratives.”
The group pledged its full cooperation with authorities investigating the crash and warned against using tragedies for malicious or exploitative purposes.
“We condemn any attempt to politicize or capitalize on human tragedies for financial or reputational gain,” it added.
Dangote Group reiterated its commitment to safety, corporate responsibility, and ethical operations, adding that all fleet operators linked to the company are required to adhere to strict safety guidelines.
The incident has reignited public criticism of Dangote-branded trucks, which have been linked to multiple road accidents across Nigeria in recent years. Social media platforms have been awash with calls for greater regulation of the company’s transport operations.
One high-profile case involved Ruth Otabor, sister to Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Ijeoma “Phyna” Otabor, who died following complications from injuries sustained after being hit by a truck reportedly linked to Dangote near Auchi Polytechnic in August.
Ruth’s death occurred just days after her graduation, and her family, through their legal counsel, confirmed they were still pursuing justice when she passed away.
As public pressure mounts, Nigerians are calling on both the government and logistics companies to tighten enforcement around the operations of heavy-duty vehicles to prevent further loss of lives.
