Business
Dangote installs cameras on CNG trucks, begins nationwide recertification of drivers
In a bid to enforce its zero-tolerance policy on road accidents, Dangote Cement Plc has announced the installation of cameras on its fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks and commenced a comprehensive recertification and screening exercise for all its truck drivers.
The exercise, which is taking place at the company’s Obajana plant in Kogi State, is being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) through the Dangote Articulated Truck Drivers Training School (DATDTS).
Speaking to journalists at the plant, Dangote Cement’s Head of Transport, Mr. Murilo Silva, said the measures are part of an aggressive safety campaign aimed at reducing accidents to the barest minimum.
“As part of efforts to promote safe driving and achieve zero road crashes, we have begun installing cameras across our fleet of thousands of CNG trucks,” Silva stated.
He added that aspiring truck drivers must now meet stricter entry requirements. Applicants must be at least 23 years old, hold a valid Class G driver’s license, and have a minimum of five years’ relevant driving experience. In addition, they must pass a rigorous screening process, which includes medical evaluations, drug and alcohol testing, and a clean criminal record with no pending legal cases.
Silva noted that the company’s Driver Employment Policy mandates these requirements, while FRSC conducts regular certification and recertification training at the DATDTS complex.
According to him, Dangote Cement has also strengthened its Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) protocols, which include pre-trip checks such as drug and alcohol testing, blood pressure monitoring, and fitness assessments before any journey.
He disclosed that participation in the company’s monthly driver training programme has risen by 60% this year, drug and alcohol testing is up by 40%, while pre-trip inspections have increased by 74%.
Earlier, the company’s Divisional Head of Transport at Obajana, Mr. Hemant Rana, revealed that Dangote Cement has invested in a multi-million-naira Pre-Trip Inspection Bay, manned by engineers and mechanics, to ensure all trucks are thoroughly inspected before hitting the road.
“We have also built a Drivers Rest House where drivers can relax after trips before embarking on new ones,” Rana said.
He added that the company has developed an advanced driver monitoring system, which includes a Drivers Help Desk to provide on-trip support and a Control Department that tracks drivers’ behaviour on the road.
The Manager of DATDTS, Mr. Daniel Marcus Akuso, described the training school as the first of its kind in Nigeria. He said the institution offers courses such as Civic Education, English, Mathematics, Defensive Driving, Truck Handling, Maintenance Technology, Health and Science, Road Signs and Codes, among others, in partnership with the FRSC.
Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Arvind Pathak, disclosed in Lagos that over 1,500 Dangote truck drivers have already undergone intensive screening to assess their mental, psychological, and physical fitness for safe driving.
“Every driver employed by Dangote Cement must go through a structured recruitment process, including background checks on the driver and guarantors, comprehensive medical evaluations – such as vision tests, blood pressure checks, BMI (body mass index), RBS (random blood sugar), as well as drug and alcohol tests,” Pathak explained.
He said the screening exercise, previously mandatory, has now become more rigorous due to the current road safety challenges across the country.
