The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to investigate Dangote Group’s road safety practices following the rollout of its newly launched Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct supply of petroleum products to filling stations nationwide.
In a statement signed by its management, DAPPMAN said:
“While DAPPMAN supports the introduction of CNG trucks as a cleaner energy initiative, safety cannot be compromised. The Dangote Group has a well-documented history of fatal road crashes linked to poorly trained or unsupervised drivers. Only weeks ago, Nigerians mourned the lives lost in tragic accidents involving Dangote cement trucks across multiple states.”
The Association expressed concern that adding 4,000 new trucks to Nigeria’s already strained road network without mandatory training, retraining, and safety audits could heighten the risk of further tragedies, particularly as these trucks transport highly flammable petroleum products. DAPPMAN urged the FRSC to conduct a thorough review of the company’s road safety records.
“We therefore call on the FRSC, insurance industry, and relevant regulators to conduct a comprehensive audit of Dangote’s transport operations and road safety record. Mandatory driver vetting and retraining must be a precondition before widespread deployment of these trucks,” the statement added.
DAPPMAN also highlighted concerns about road congestion, noting:
“Residents along major corridors, such as the Lekki-Epe Expressway, are already experiencing worsening congestion and road wear due to increased truck traffic. Without immediate intervention, the risks to lives, property, and public infrastructure will escalate.”
On allegations of petroleum product smuggling to neighbouring countries, DAPPMAN accused Dangote Refinery of implicitly blaming the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), Customs, and other border agencies, stating:
“This not only undermines public confidence in these institutions but poses a subtle threat to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s reform agenda. The administration has supported deregulation and competition. DAPPMAN supports these reforms fully. The refinery’s actions suggest a preference for protectionism and dominance.”
The Association demanded that Dangote Refinery provide evidence or retract its claims, giving a seven-day ultimatum:
“We challenge Dangote Refinery to present verifiable evidence that DAPPMAN members are diverting products to neighbouring countries. Smuggling is a national security matter. If any member is complicit, let the relevant agencies act. We issue a 7-day ultimatum to the refinery to either retract this allegation or provide documented proof. If neither occurs, we reserve the right to seek legal redress.”
