Dangote Cement drivers raise welfare concerns at Ibese safety retreat

Dangote Cement has told its drivers that their safety matters more than delivery schedules, at a retreat for personnel at its Ibese plant in Ogun State.

The 2026 Drivers' Safety Retreat, themed "Think Safety, Act Safely", brought drivers, transport staff and management together to talk about road safety and the concerns affecting their work.

According to the company, drivers used the session to raise issues including the rising cost of living, work-related expenses and delays in receiving drug-test results.

What management told the drivers

The Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement, Arvind Pathak, said the company was committed to listening to its drivers and improving their welfare alongside its spending on training and safer transport.

"We can replace a truck; we cannot replace a human being," Pathak said, urging drivers not to put delivery targets ahead of their own safety.

He advised them to stop and rest whenever they feel tired, adding that the aim of every trip is to return home safely to family.

The Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Oluseyi Mulero, also asked drivers to rest when fatigued, noting that their families depend on their safe return.

The company's Head of Transport, Murilo Silva, warned against reckless driving, proxy driving and other unsafe practices, saying such behaviour would not be tolerated.

Why it matters on Nigerian roads

Long-distance haulage is a tough trade in Nigeria. Drivers spend hours on highways, often under pressure to deliver quickly, and fatigue and speeding are common causes of crashes involving heavy trucks.

For ordinary road users, a company telling its drivers to slow down and rest is a safety message that goes beyond its own fleet.

At the end of the retreat, the company gave awards to eight drivers, four fleet officers and one STM recipient for performance and commitment to safety. Both sides pledged to keep building a stronger safety culture across the company's logistics network.