Dangote Group has denied ownership of the truck involved in a fatal accident on Wednesday in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, which reportedly claimed several lives, including that of a pregnant woman.
The company, in a statement on Thursday, said reports linking it to the incident were false.
“The company wishes to make it categorically clear that the truck involved in the unfortunate incident does not belong to Dangote Group or any of its subsidiaries,” the statement read.
It explained that the truck, with registration number JJJ 365 XB, is owned and operated by an independent logistics company with no affiliation to Dangote Group.
According to the statement, the truck was not conveying any Dangote products but was transporting crushed stones in reused sacks bearing various brand names.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the truck was not conveying any Dangote products but was transporting crushed stones in reused sacks bearing various brand names,” it added.
Dangote Group added that all its trucks are properly branded, tracked and operated by trained personnel under strict safety and compliance standards.
“A strict policy on fleet management and vehicle identification, ensuring that all its trucks are properly branded, tracked, and operated by trained personnel under rigorous safety and compliance standards,” the statement said.
The company expressed sympathy for the victims and urged the public and media to verify information before attributing ownership to Dangote Group.
It also advised against circulating old or unrelated images of its branded trucks in connection with the accident.
Reports said the truck, allegedly loaded with cement, lost control and crushed several people along the Akungba-Owo highway. Witnesses said the vehicle, which was heading from Ikare to Akungba, suffered brake failure and ran through a barricade erected at the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), before hitting pedestrians.
A statement by the AAUA Student Union Government’s public relations officer, Ajidagba Mosadoluwa, said about 10 people lost their lives in the incident.
The union blamed the continued use of the Akungba road by heavy-duty trucks for recurring accidents and called for calm among students.
Reports also indicate that the university community and the Akungba palace are accusing each other of compromising the barricade meant to restrict trucks from using the road.
It was alleged that some individuals with access to the barricade keys were collecting money from drivers to allow passage.
The latest crash occurred two months after former BBNaija housemate Phyna’s sister, Ruth Otabor, was killed by a truck branded in Dangote’s name near Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State.
The company has maintained that many trucks branded with its name are operated by independent logistics companies.
Dangote Group reiterated its commitment to safety, regulatory compliance and responsible operations across its businesses in Nigeria and beyond.
