Dangote is in the news all over again. The lady involved in an accident with one of his Truks somewere in Edo State has passed
This sad occurrence have rocked Nigerians who remain sobre as to the sad occurrence
The shinanigans of multiple social media titans who are feeding off the incidence in an irresponsible frenzy in pursuit of selfish interest not withstanding, this particular incident continues to afford more responsible Nigerians another opportunity to be reflective
In a statement released by Dangote Group, they regretted the incidence and mentioned all they had done in resoect of the young lady and also expressed their deep sorrow at the sad loss
This sad news even seems to over shadow another milestone by the Group
It has been announced that the Dangote Group have successfully exported fuel to America.
This historic feat was announced a few days ago in another statement by the Group
This remarkable milestone continues to delineate the precice vision of the Group as it hurtles very speedily on its ascribed trajectory.
But this aside, the kernel of my discussion is the seeming allusion of any major truck accident to Dangote and his trucks
This has become worrisome for the Group as was alluded to in my brief discussion with a very top management staff of the Group
In response to my enquiries, he sent a police statement by the Enugu State police command detailing very copiously the accident were lots of Nigerian lives were unwittingly lost once again
As its beginning to be the case, Social media went to town again to ascribe this very sad and very very avoidable incident to Dangote trucks who were no where near the illfated site.
With a fleet of over 4,000 trucks, criss crossing the Nation distributing all sorts of goods, these trucks form the very lifeline of our economy
According to said official, these occurences cannot be totally wiped out but stringent measures inclusive of capacity building and training are in place and are even being ramped up as we speak
For me, the issues of Truck accidents or any other type of accidents especially on our roads cannot be dropped only on Dangotes feet cos he has the largest land fleet in the country
All stakeholder management groups from the Minsitry of works who owns and manages these highways, to the FRSC, to Health Care delivery institutions down to the media must not only share the blame but must also work in tandem to make sure these incidences are brought down to internationally acceptable figures.
We cannot only be pointing at Dangote evn though some of their drivers are very furious on the roads when the roads themselves have turned into craters risking all users lives
No first responders, in the event of an accident, trauma and accident facilities in our hospitals are most non existent, Road Marshalls whose job is to Marshall the Roads are least interested and when avoidable carnage happens, everybody shouts Dangote even if his trucks are no where near the accident site.
It would be most unfair to make Dangote Trucks the poster boy for road carnage especially as statitics does not support this in any way.
My thoughts are that Dangote should lead the push for safer roads, galvanising critical stakeholder groups to work very assidiously towards reducing to the barest minimum the incidences of death on our roads
My heartfelt condolences goes to every Nigerian family who have lost a loved one on any of these mostly avoidable road incidences.
Sad
Thanks
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: September 4, 2025
