Dangote Installs Cameras on CNG Trucks, Recertifies Drivers to Curb Road Crashes

Dangote Installs Cameras on CNG Trucks, Recertifies Drivers to Curb Road Crashes

In a renewed push to enforce its zero-tolerance policy on road crashes, Dangote Cement Plc has commenced the recertification and screening of all its truck drivers, alongside the installation of cameras across its fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks.

The exercise, carried out at the Dangote Cement Plant in Obajana, Kogi State, is being implemented through the Dangote Articulated Trucks Drivers Training School (DATDTS) in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Speaking with journalists during the exercise, the Head of Transport, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Murilo Silva, said the new measures are part of the comp

any’s broader commitment to safe driving and accident-free operations.

According to him, aspiring truck drivers must now meet stricter entry requirements, including being at least 23 years old, holding a valid Class G driver’s licence, and possessing a minimum of five years of relevant driving experience. Applicants must also undergo a comprehensive recruitment process covering medical evaluations, drug and alcohol testing, background checks, and confirmation of a clean criminal record.

Silva added that FRSC regularly conducts certification and recertification trainings for the company’s drivers at the DATDTS complex. He disclosed that Dangote has instituted robust safety measures, including pre-trip medical checks such as blood pressure monitoring and alcohol tests, to ensure drivers are fit before embarking on journeys.

“We are seeing improvements in compliance,” he said. “Drivers’ participation in our monthly training programme has risen by 60% this year, drug and alcohol testing has gone up by 40%, while pre-trip inspections have improved by 74%.”

Also speaking, the Divisional Head of Transport at DCP Obajana, Mr. Hemant Rana, revealed that the company has established a multi-million-naira Pre-Trip Inspection Bay, manned by engineers and mechanics, to carry out comprehensive checks on trucks before they hit the roads.

He explained that Dangote has also built a dedicated Drivers Rest House to help truck drivers recover adequately before new trips, while a Drivers Help Desk and a Control Department have been set up to monitor drivers’ welfare and conduct during operations.

The Manager of DATDTS, Mr. Daniel Marcus Akuso, described the school as the first of its kind in Nigeria, offering structured training programmes developed in collaboration with the FRSC. Courses offered at the institution include Civic Education, English, Mathematics, Defensive Driving, Truck Handling, Road Signs and Codes, Maintenance Technology, and Health and Safety, among others.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Arvind Pathak, disclosed that no fewer than 1,500 Dangote drivers have already undergone intensive screening to ascertain their mental, psychological, and physical fitness for road operations.

“Every driver employed by Dangote Cement must go through a rigorous recruitment and screening process,” Pathak said. “This includes medical tests such as vision checks, blood sugar levels, body mass index, and drug and alcohol evaluations, in addition to background verification.”

Pathak stressed that the company is determined to maintain the highest standards of road safety in Nigeria and across Africa.