— expresses commitment to absolute safer roads policy
Management of Dangote Cement Plc ( DCP ) has expressed commitment to training and constant retraining of its truck drivers to promote operational efficiency and save driving across Nigeria.
Speaking during its 2025 Annual Drivers’ Retreat with Theme: “Drive Safely, Arrive Safely,” Dangote Cement Group Managing Director, Arvind Pathak emphasised that a leading cement manufacturer with thousands of fleet, safety on the road remains the company’s core mandate. He said the essence of the yearly is to remind the drivers of the core values of the brand and to ensure that they are all committed to the Absolute Safer Road Policy of the Group.
The training exercise for the drivers in Dangote Cement Plc ( DCP ) Ibese Plant took place in Ilaro area of Ogun State, with over 900 drivers in attendance. Another extensive re – training exercise for more drivers has been scheduled to take place in Obajana, Kogi State next week.
The Dangote Cement boss reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to road safety, transparency, appropriate ethical conduct, and provision of detailed clarity on the comprehensive systems and procedures to mitigate against any incident along roads across the country.
Mr. Pathak said Dangote Cement was a responsible organisation that consistently cooperates with the Nigeria Police and other relevant authorities in the incidents with support of all lawful processes aimed at establishing the facts and routinely implement recommendations that strengthen public safety.
He explained that every drivers employed by Dangote Cement is required to undergo an extensive and rigorous structured recruitment process that includes: Valid Driver’s licence, Class G. background verification of both the driver and their guarantors, comprehensive medical evaluation, including vision screening ( eye test), blood pressure checks, body mass index ( BMI ), random blood sugar ( RBS ) test as well as drug and alcohol testing.
“Other recruitment screening covers usage within a three – month detection window, ensuring, identifying any history of substance use before employment, completion of a two – week intensive training programme, which consist of twelve safety modules, practical driving assessments and written examination,” the Cement GMD stated.
According to him, “in the past two months alone, over 2000 prospective driver have successfully completed this process. Only those who meet all required standards were employed and certified to operate any Dangote Group vehicles. Our commitment to safety extends beyond recruitment. All drivers undergo mandatory pre – trip medical assessment conducted by license nurses and doctors.
“These include regular check on blood pressure , vision and overall fitness, ensuring drivers are physically and mentally fit to operate safely. To enforce compliance with zero tolerance policy on substance use, random drug tests are conducted routinely across our operations.
Mr. Pathak stated that Dangote Cement would continue to collaborate with the Federal Road Safety Corps and other regulatory agencies to ensure that all training compliance, and operational processes are not standardised but also continuously improved, adding that these authorities are also actively involved in monitoring and evaluation of their safety practices.
He maintained that Dangote Cement remains fully committed strengthening driver on boarding and training, enforcing strict safety and behavioural standards, applying punitive measures to curb errant driving, collaborating with government agencies, regulators and communities to improve road safety, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compassion in everything they do.
Also addressing the assembled drivers, the Group Chief Health Safety Social and Environment Officer & Sustainability Function, Dangote Industries Limited ( D I L ), Dr. James Adenuga stressed the importance of safety protocols and noted that the process was not just to train the drivers on consequence but to continuously remind them of essentials of safety guides.
Adenuga further stated that regular training was to educate them on the Language they understand and team how the training matters to them. He gave insights on the measures put in place to ensure the individuals are recruited as drivers, saying the qualifications of recruiting the drivers included minimum of Secondary schools Certificate, ability to speak and write good English, couple with reading skills, free of substance abuse, 2 – 5 years driving experience, possession of Class G drivers license, guarantors and rigorous training among other measures.
“We also partner Federal Road Safety Corps to train and prepare them for professional driving so as as to prevent them for reckless driving. We equally have a process to give recognition and award to those that profess conduct and good behaved drivers among their peers,” he added.
Taking the drivers through some requirements for safe driving, a Road Safety Experts, Mr. One Ehbota explained that the choice of the topic paper centred on safety driving habits for accident – free – journeys.
Mr. Ehbota listed acts such as aggressiveness, impatient driving, use of phone while driving, taking alcoholic drink and disobedience to traffic signs, as negatives against the tenet of safe driving. He advised the assembled drivers to be conscious of dangerous overtaking and to drive within the driving limit of 60 km per hour so that they do not veer off the road and cause accidents that could affect negatively other road users.
According to him, “Let me tell you all, drivers are the ambassadors of Dangote Group, Aside being ambassadors, you are also stakeholders that should be careful and consider other road users as important while on the road.”
