Dangote Industries Limited has distanced itself from a truck involved in Wednesday’s fatal road accident in Enugu State, saying the vehicle does not belong to its fleet.
The crash, which occurred around 9 a.m., involved a Howo truck loaded with cement and a Toyota Corolla. The truck was branded with the Dangote logo, sparking widespread claims online that it was operated by the conglomerate.
In a statement released by its management, Dangote Group dismissed the reports, insisting that the vehicle was operated by an independent company.
“We are engaging with the appropriate agencies to find out why the truck was carrying our logo when it is not part of our fleet,” the company said.
“Going forward, we will apply more scrutiny to the unauthorised use of our brand identity, especially the misuse of our logo on vehicles not linked to the Group.”
The firm stressed that although it ordinarily avoids reacting to individual incidents, it was compelled to issue the clarification due to misinformation circulating in the public space.
“Ordinarily, it is our policy not to comment on individual cases, but the spread of misinformation linking these incidents to the Dangote Group without evidence has compelled us to respond,” the statement added.
“We call on the public and the media to avoid spreading unverified claims.”
The company also pledged full cooperation with law enforcement agencies investigating the crash.
“We are committed to cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and insist that investigations should be allowed to run their course without interference. We strongly reject attempts to exploit tragedies like this for malicious or financial gain,” it stated.
Dangote Industries further reiterated its commitment to corporate responsibility, safety, and integrity, noting that the misuse of its brand identity on unauthorised trucks undermines public trust.
The incident comes amid rising criticism of Dangote-branded heavy-duty vehicles, which have frequently been linked to road accidents across the country.
In a recent case, Ruth Otabor — younger sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Ijeoma “Phyna” Otabor — died following a leg amputation after being hit by a truck reportedly connected to the conglomerate near Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State. Her family, through its lawyers, confirmed her death while pursuing justice and compensation.
