Dangote Cement Plc has held a special drivers’ retreat at its Obajana plant in Kogi State as part of efforts to improve road safety and strengthen best practices in fleet management.
The event, which took place on Thursday, brought together hundreds of Dangote truck drivers alongside top company executives. It was designed as an interactive platform to promote safety culture, discipline, and responsibility among drivers, who are often the most visible representatives of the Dangote brand on Nigerian roads.
In his address, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvid Pathak, explained that the retreat was meant to reorient drivers on discipline behind the wheel and on the company’s core values of safety and responsibility. He reminded participants that their lives were precious, urging them to always drive carefully and avoid risky behavior.
“Your life is very precious, so take care of yourselves. You have families, and your families need you,” Pathak said. He noted that the programme included discussions on defensive driving, fatigue management, and proper vehicle maintenance. According to him, it also gave the management an opportunity to hear directly from drivers about the challenges they face.
Pathak further warned against the use of drugs and the dangerous practice of proxy driving, stressing that the company maintains a zero-tolerance policy for reckless behavior and road accidents.
The Head of Transport at Dangote Cement, Murilo Silva, also spoke at the retreat. He disclosed that the company is currently building modern, technology-driven control towers at Obajana. He explained that the facilities would allow for real-time monitoring of driver behavior, which would improve both safety and efficiency in fleet operations.
“Over speeding is one of the leading causes of road crashes involving heavy trucks. Always keep within the approved speed limit, especially on highways and in populated areas,” Silva warned. “You are the face of Dangote. Give way when necessary, be patient in traffic, and respect smaller vehicles.”
The Group Head of Health, Safety, Social, Environment & Sustainability at Dangote Industries Ltd., Dr. James Adenuga, reminded drivers that their role goes beyond transporting cement. “Gentlemen, every time you drive out of this plant, you carry not just cement, but lives, reputations, and the pride of this company,” he said.
Also contributing, transport expert, Samuel Odo, said most road crashes are preventable. He urged drivers to adopt the right culture of safety by obeying traffic rules and making simple checks before every trip. “Culture is built by doing the right thing every time, every trip, every day. From wearing seatbelts, obeying speed limits, to checking tyres—repeat it until it becomes a habit,” he advised.
On the sidelines of the retreat, Dangote’s Divisional Director of Transport, Hemant Rana, said the event, themed Drive Safely, Arrive Safely, had already produced results in reducing accidents. According to him, the company has recorded fewer crashes due to increased driver training sessions and stricter monitoring.
Community leaders also attended the programme. The Bajana of Obajana, HRH Idowu Isenibi, praised the crucial role played by Dangote drivers in the company’s operations and appealed to them to always obey traffic regulations. Similarly, the Olu of Apata, HRH Federick Balogun, commended Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, for creating employment opportunities for Nigerian drivers. He noted that he personally benefited from the company’s job creation initiatives in its early years.
The retreat ended with an awards ceremony recognizing drivers who had demonstrated discipline, professionalism, and commitment to safe driving. The awardees received public recognition in front of their colleagues, reinforcing the importance of responsible behavior on Nigerian highways.
For Dangote Cement, the retreat highlighted its strong commitment to road safety and corporate responsibility. For the drivers, it served as a reminder of their important role in the company’s success and a call to remain disciplined as they move across Nigeria’s busy highways every day.
