Dangote Cement Trains Over 900 Drivers on Road Safety
By Patience Ikpeme
The management of Dangote Cement Plc has conducted a large-scale training exercise for its drivers.
The first training exercise took place at the company’s Ibese Plant in the Ilaro area of Ogun State, with over 900 drivers participating.
The session forms part of the cement giant’s annual drivers’ retreat, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring safe driving across Nigeria.
The 2025 Annual Drivers’ Retreat, themed around Dangote’s road safety policy, will continue with another round of extensive retraining scheduled to take place at the company’s Obajana Plant in Kogi State next week.
Speaking during the Ibese programme, Dangote Cement’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Arvind Pathak, said road safety remains central to the company’s operations, given the size of its fleet across the country.
“As a leading cement manufacturer with thousands of trucks in its fleet, safety on the road remains the company’s core mandate,” Pathak said. “The essence of this yearly training is to remind our drivers of the core values of the brand and ensure that they are all committed to the Absolute Safer Road Policy of the Group.”
Pathak noted that the company was committed to road safety, transparency, ethical conduct, and the implementation of systems designed to prevent accidents. He added that Dangote consistently collaborates with the Nigeria Police and other authorities in investigating incidents and applies recommendations aimed at strengthening public safety.
On recruitment procedures, the Group Managing Director explained that all prospective drivers undergo a rigorous process before employment. “Every driver employed by Dangote Cement is required to have a valid Class G driver’s licence, provide verifiable guarantors, and undergo comprehensive medical evaluations, including vision screening, blood pressure checks, BMI, random blood sugar tests, and drug and alcohol screening,” he stated.
He disclosed that more than 2,000 prospective drivers had completed the process in the last two months, with only those who met all requirements certified to operate Dangote vehicles.
Beyond recruitment, Pathak added that the company enforces routine pre-trip medical assessments for drivers and conducts random drug tests to maintain its zero-tolerance stance on substance use.
He further said the company continues to work closely with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other regulators to standardise and improve its training and compliance procedures.
“Our collaboration with government agencies and regulators helps us enforce strict safety and behavioural standards, apply punitive measures against errant driving, and strengthen accountability and transparency in our operations,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Dangote Industries Limited’s Group Chief, Health Safety Social and Environment Officer & Sustainability Function, Dr. James Adenuga, said the company’s approach goes beyond training to continuous sensitisation of drivers on the importance of safety.
“This process is not just about training drivers on the consequences of reckless driving but about constantly reminding them of the essentials of safety guides,” Adenuga stated. He explained that the recruitment criteria include at least a secondary school certificate, ability to communicate in English, two to five years of driving experience, and being free from substance abuse.
Adenuga added that the FRSC plays a critical role in preparing drivers for professional driving, while Dangote also recognises and rewards exemplary drivers who uphold discipline and safe road habits.
In his presentation, a road safety expert, Mr. Oje Ebhota, focused on safe driving habits necessary to prevent accidents. He identified aggressiveness, impatience, phone use while driving, alcohol consumption, and disobedience to traffic rules as major risks to road safety.
He cautioned drivers against dangerous overtaking and advised them to maintain the recommended speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour. “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.
With thousands of trucks transporting cement across the country daily, Dangote Cement’s management said it would continue to invest in intensive training and retraining of its drivers, as part of efforts to ensure safe roads for both its drivers and other users.
