The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Monday, dismissed allegations of monopolistic practices in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector as the company rolled out 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas trucks in Lagos.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Dangote refinery in Lagos, the billionaire said the company had already committed ₦2 trillion to trucks and logistics, noting that the new CNG fleet would help ease transportation and stabilise fuel supply across the country.
“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,” he said.
Dangote stressed that the company’s investments were aimed at modernising the industry rather than edging out competitors.
He disclosed that Dangote Group had purchased 10,000 trucks, including CNG and dry cargo carriers, with plans to scale up operations.
“Every day, trucks will be arriving. By the end of November, we will have 10,250 CNG trucks in operation,” he assured.
Looking ahead, Dangote revealed that the company plans to introduce electric vehicles by January 2026 as part of its transition strategy, alongside the refinery’s expanding production capacity.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s growing fertiliser output, describing it as “a big celebration for Nigeria.”
“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,” he added.
Dangote further explained that the group currently lifts 40,000 tonnes of diesel monthly, while more than 1.6 billion litres of fuel have been exported. According to him, the group would continue to “take the risks out of Nigeria” while positioning the country as a hub for energy and industrial growth.
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery’s newly acquired CNG trucks began loading petroleum products at the facility on Monday for direct distribution to filling stations nationwide.
The refinery, which announced in August that it had received the first batch of 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, said the rollout marks the official commencement of its fuel distribution programme.
