Lagos — Industrialist and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has dismissed accusations of monopolistic practices as the company rolled out 1,000 new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks on Monday, signaling a major push to transform fuel logistics and transportation across Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Dangote disclosed that the conglomerate had already invested over ₦2 trillion in trucks and logistics infrastructure to boost fuel distribution nationwide. He said the company ordered 4,000 CNG-powered trucks from China, with the first batch now operational, adding that the new fleet would stabilise fuel supply and reduce transport costs.
“We are not here to take anyone out of the market. The trucks we are deploying have already created 24,000 jobs, with salaries four times the minimum wage,” Dangote told journalists, rejecting claims from petrol marketers that the group was trying to monopolise the petroleum downstream sector.
Massive Logistics Expansion
Dangote further revealed that the group had purchased 10,000 trucks in total — including CNG-powered and dry cargo carriers — as part of an ambitious plan to overhaul Nigeria’s logistics chain.
“Every day, trucks will be arriving. By the end of November, we will have 10,250 CNG trucks in operation,” he said, stressing that the fleet would modernise the transport sector and ensure consistent energy delivery across the country.
He also announced that the company is planning to roll out electric vehicles by January 2026, alongside the growing output from the Dangote Refinery.
According to him, Nigeria is on track to become the largest producer of fertiliser globally — which he described as “a big celebration for Nigeria.”
Refinery Begins Direct Fuel Distribution
Dangote noted that the company already lifts 40,000 tonnes of diesel monthly, while over 1.6 billion litres of fuel have been exported. He emphasised that the group’s strategy is to “take the risks out of Nigeria” by making the country a hub for energy and industrial growth.
On Monday, the newly acquired CNG trucks officially began loading petroleum products directly from the Dangote Refinery in Lagos for nationwide distribution to filling stations.
An on-site correspondent reported that the trucks were taking turns at the gantry to load products, marking the launch of the company’s long-planned direct fuel distribution programme. The refinery had announced in August that it received the first batch of its 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, initially scheduled to commence operations on August 15.
“Our aim is to modernise, generate jobs every day, and make life easier for Nigerians. We are not going to be distracted by the noise of unions,” Dangote said.
