NAPS/NANS MEETS DANGOTE GROUP ON RECURRING TRUCK TRAGEDIES IN STUDENT COMMUNITIES

PRESS RELEASE

The leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students [NAPS], in synergy with the National Association of Nigerian Students [NANS], yesterday paid an official visit to the management of Dangote Group at their Refinery Admin Blocks in Lagos state. The meeting was received by the Vice President of Dangote Group and his management team.

The purpose of this engagement was to address the recurring tragedies caused by Dangote Cement Plc trucks in student communities, with reference to the harrowing cases of Ruth Obadon Otabor [Auchi Polytechnic], Elizabeth Obi [A project defense student], Precious Olurotimi [FUNAAB] and several other victims whose lives and futures have been shattered by negligence on our roads.

At the meeting, the President of NAPS, Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, [GCNPS SHOPRITE] on behalf of the leadership of NAPS, presented a detailed Position Paper on the Recurring Dangote Cement Plc Truck Tragedies in Student Communities. The document outlined documented cases, demands, and proposals aimed at ensuring justice for victims and preventing further occurrences.

OUR DEMANDS PRESENTED

1. Immediate Medical and Livelihood Intervention

__Global Standard Medical Treatment: Dangote Cement Plc should fully fund advanced medical treatment for Ruth Obadon Otabor, locally or abroad, to salvage her health and mobility.

__Permanent Livelihood Security for Ruth as a Mother: Considering Ruth is a mother of two, Dangote Cement Plc must recognize that her tragedy has extended into the lives of her children. Automatic employment for her as an Assistant Director in Dangote Cement Plc, alongside allocation of a three-bedroom apartment in Ikoyi within five kilometres of the company headquarters, is not a luxury but a necessity. It will ensure that her children are not condemned to the cycle of deprivation caused by corporate negligence.

__Medical Rescue of a project defense Victim, Elizabeth Obi: Immediate evacuation and full sponsorship of advanced treatment for young Elizabeth Obi, who has spent eleven months in Irrua Specialist Hospital unattended after being crushed by a Dangote truck.

__Compensation and Family Livelihood Support: Dangote Cement Plc must provide comprehensive compensation and structured family support to Miss Elizabeth Obi’s family, ensuring her future is not extinguished by corporate negligence.

__Restitution for Precious Olurotimi [FUNAAB Student]: Precious Olurotimi, a student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, crushed by a Dangote Cement truck in October 2021, remains another symbol of abandonment. NAPS demands her case be revisited urgently. She must be given advanced medical rehabilitation, full compensation, and a structured livelihood support plan to restore dignity to her life and ensure she is not condemned to perpetual struggle by corporate neglect.

__Employment & Livelihood Support for Other Victims with Severe Injuries: All other victims of Dangote truck accidents who have sustained life-altering injuries should be considered for automatic employment as senior staff within Dangote Cement Plc and provided with adequate housing and livelihood packages.

2. Corporate Safety Infrastructure Nationwide

__Construction of pedestrian bridges with protective hoardings in Dangote truck corridors near schools and tertiary institutions.

__Installation of speed bumps before every U-turn near educational environments.

__Sponsorship and deployment of FRSC enforcement units within student host communities, equipped to monitor erring drivers in real time, with visible regulatory road signages and strict compliance audits.

3. Operational Safety Policy Reform

__Enforce a 40 km/h speed limit in student corridors between 4:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., and 60 km/h between 11:00 p.m.–4:00 a.m.

__ Ensure lane discipline and designate truck-only lanes in communities hosting learning institutions.

__Introduce an automated driver monitoring and recertification programme to eliminate unlicensed and underage drivers.

4. Accountability & Transparency

__A full review and overhaul of driver recruitment, training, and monitoring processes.

5. National Panel of Enquiry

For too long, the blood of innocent Nigerians has been spilled on the highways, and their cries buried in silence. Families are left to mourn in isolation, victims are abandoned in hospital wards, and justice is reduced to whispers. This cannot continue.

We therefore demand that Dangote Cement Plc urgently constitute a National Panel of Enquiry into all past and present accidents involving its trucks, particularly in student communities. This panel must:

__Include independent stakeholders such as NAPS, NANS and Civil Society Organisations.

__Verify every known case of injury, death, and property loss linked to Dangote trucks.

__Publish a transparent report within 3 months, detailing findings and recommendations for compensation, safety reforms, and accountability.

This is not a request — it is a moral necessity. Silence has already claimed too many lives. Without a structured national response, every tragedy will simply be followed by another.

6. National Educational Impact Project [CSR Initiative]

Reputation is not built by billboards or slogans, but by the lived experiences of the people. Today, in Nigerian student communities, the bitter nickname for Dangote Group is: “the new assassins in town.” This damning reputation was not manufactured; it was earned by the repeated tragedies that have destroyed lives and futures.

To begin rewriting this ugly narrative, Dangote Cement Plc must commit to a legacy project that restores trust and gives back to the very demographic most affected by its operations — Nigerian students.

We therefore propose that Dangote Cement Plc sponsor the NAPS National E-Library Project:

__A nationwide digital knowledge hub providing access to research materials, journals, e-books, and academic resources for millions of students.

__Fully branded with Dangote Cement Plc’s identity, ensuring that every Nigerian student sees the company not as a harbinger of death, but as a partner in education and progress.

__Integrated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, symbolizing corporate synergy with national development.

This project will not only repair a damaged reputation but also immortalize Dangote Cement Plc as a corporate body that transformed grief into hope, and tragedy into a legacy of knowledge.

Anything short of such visible and student-centred intervention will only confirm the fears of millions: that profit, for Dangote, is worth more than the lives of Nigerians.

The President of NANS, Comrade Olushola L Oladoja, expressed his displeasure over avoidable incidents involving Dangote cement trucks and our students. He further emphasized the need for two qualified drivers and a motor boy per Dangote truck to enhance safety and create employment opportunities. The reason for this is because he observed that when a driver must have been tired of driving, they often handover to their motor boys who doesn't even have licences to driver talk more safety protocols knowledge.

STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF INSURANCE, DANGOTE GROUP

The Director of Insurance, Mr. Shola, addressed the specific cases of victims:

__On Ruth Obadon Otabor, he explained that upon receiving news of the accident, Dangote’s Welfare Committee representatives visited the police to get a report and visited the hospital, assured the family of full responsibility, and arranged an air ambulance from Lagos flew to Edo and evacuated Ruth from Irrua Specialist Hospital to Lagoon Hospital, Lagos one of the country’s foremost hospitals. Her treatment is ongoing, the doctors have said they're capable of handling the situation and that for now, she's not fit to withstand the stress of such long distance journey but however, if foreign medical evacuation becomes necessary, the company will act on medical recommendations

__On Elizabeth Obi, he admitted the company was not initially aware of her case until it was brought up to their notice. He requested NAPS to urgently provide her family’s contact details for immediate intervention.

__On Precious Olurotimi, he also requested that the students leadership provide the family’s contact details and all necessary informations so, the company can assume responsibility and support her recovery.

__He added that all documented daily expenses incurred by victims’ families will be reimbursed by the company.

STATEMENT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT, DANGOTE INDUSTRIES LTD.

The Vice President of Dangote Industries Ltd., in his closing remarks, assured the student delegation of the company’s commitment to addressing the recurring tragedies:

__He disclosed that all Dangote truck drivers are undergoing fresh recertification to ensure professionalism and safety.

__Confirmed that surveillance cameras are being installed across the fleet of Compressed Natural Gas [CNG] trucks to monitor driving behaviour and enforce accountability.

__Welcomed the suggestion of two certified drivers per truck and a motor boy by the President of NANS, acknowledging the cost implications but emphasizing that the safety of lives is paramount hence, the company will consider it done.

__Clarified that some trucks bearing the Dangote logo may belong to external partners; hence, eyewitnesses are encouraged to always record plate numbers and truck body numbers in case of incidents.

__Expressed readiness toh implement the National Panel of Enquiry as proposed in the NAPS Position Paper, with NAPS, NANS, and civil society as independent stakeholders.

__Assured that while immediate victim-related cases will be addressed without delay, other long-term structural demands will be reviewed by the board executive as he will revert back to his president who is aware of our meeting.

__Reiterated Dangote Group’s openness to continuous dialogue with the student community, stressing that safety and corporate responsibility remain a priority. Assured us of subsequent meetings to follow up those cases to the latter.

CONCLUSION

The meeting ended on a positive note, with both parties agreeing that student lives must never again be the price of profit. The Dangote Group expressed readiness to work closely with the student constituency to ensure justice, safety, and corporate social responsibility [CSR]. 

On behalf of NAPS and NANS, we appreciate the solidarity of the Nigerian student community and assure all that we will remain vigilant until justice is served and every promise fulfilled.

The meeting was rounded off with votes of thanks by Comr. Akinteye Babtee Akinteye Babtee Babatunde former NANS Senate President and Comr. Pilot Adeyeye Olugbenga Pilot former NAPS President.

The leadership of NAPS and NANS are ever committed to protecting the interests of the Nigeria students. 

ALUTA CONTINUA! 

VICTORIA ASCERTA!!

Comrade Origbo Ifeanyi Gilbert 

Chief Press Secretary To National President, NAPS 

August 30, 2025