The company says the vehicle was operated by a third party as public outrage grows over rising accidents linked to Dangote-branded trucks
Dangote Industries Limited has distanced itself from a truck involved in a fatal road accident in Enugu State on Wednesday, insisting the vehicle does not belong to its fleet.
The crash, which occurred around 9 a.m., involved a Howo truck loaded with cement and a Toyota Corolla. The truck bore the inscription of Visco Investment Global Limited and was said to be travelling from Aba to Abuja when tragedy struck. However, reports circulating online quickly linked the vehicle to the Dangote Group because of its brand markings, a claim the company has now strongly refuted.
In a statement signed by its management, the conglomerate explained that the vehicle was operated by a third party and not by Dangote. The company expressed concern over the misuse of its logo on vehicles not connected to its operations, stressing that tighter measures would be implemented to protect its brand identity.
“We are engaging with the appropriate agencies to find out why the truck was carrying our logo when it is not part of our fleet,” the statement read. “Going forward, we will apply more scrutiny to the unauthorised use of our brand identity, especially the misuse of our logo on vehicles not linked to the Group.”
The company noted that while it typically refrains from commenting on individual cases, it was compelled to respond due to the spread of misinformation linking the accident to its operations. “Ordinarily, it is our policy not to comment on individual cases, but the spread of misinformation linking these incidents to the Dangote Group without evidence has compelled us to respond. We call on the public and the media to avoid spreading unverified claims,” the management added.
Dangote Industries stressed that it remains committed to corporate responsibility, safety, and integrity, while pledging full cooperation with relevant authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. “We strongly reject attempts to exploit tragedies like this for malicious or financial gain,” the company declared.
The denial comes amid growing public criticism of the conglomerate over the frequency of road accidents involving Dangote-branded trucks across Nigeria. Many Nigerians have taken to social media to demand stricter regulation of heavy-duty vehicles associated with the company, accusing it of not doing enough to curb reckless driving.
The controversy has been further inflamed by a recent tragedy in Edo State involving Ruth Otabor, the younger sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Ijeoma “Phyna” Otabor. Ruth died on Sunday, September 1, 2025, following complications from a leg amputation after being hit by a truck reportedly linked to the Dangote Group near Auchi Polytechnic. Her family, represented by Eko Solicitors & Advocates, confirmed that she passed away around 6:30 a.m. while they were still pursuing justice and compensation over the incident.
The accident that claimed Ruth’s life occurred on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, just six days after she graduated from Auchi Polytechnic. Eyewitnesses recounted how the truck crushed her leg before it was eventually chased down and stopped by a bystander.
These recurring tragedies have continued to fuel outrage, with calls for greater accountability and oversight over Dangote-branded trucks, even as the company maintains that not all such vehicles belong to its official fleet.
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