Safety First: Dangote Cement Screens 1,500 Drivers for Road Readiness

Dangote Cement has screened more than 1,500 truck drivers in a rigorous process designed to ensure their mental, physical, and psychological fitness for safe driving. Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, disclosed this at the 2025 Annual Drivers Retreat held in Ilaro, Ogun State, over the weekend.

Pathak explained that the screening was mandatory for every driver and had to be even more intensive given the state of roads across the country. He noted that the recruitment process requires all prospective drivers to hold a valid Class G driver’s licence, undergo background verification of themselves and their guarantors, and complete a comprehensive medical evaluation. The medical checks cover vision screening, blood pressure monitoring, body mass index assessment, random blood sugar tests, and drug and alcohol testing.

“In the past two months alone, over 1,500 prospective drivers have successfully completed this process,” Pathak said. “Only those who met all required standards were engaged and certified to operate Dangote Group vehicles.”

Beyond recruitment, the company insists on pre-trip medical assessments for all drivers, carried out by licensed nurses and doctors. Pathak stressed that the company is deeply committed to training and retraining its drivers to ensure road safety, given the thousands of trucks in its fleet.

He underlined Dangote Cement’s responsibility as a major road user, noting that the company places safety at the heart of its operations. He said the organisation consistently works with law enforcement agencies such as the Nigeria Police in investigating road incidents and implementing recommendations to strengthen public safety.

As part of the process, drivers are also screened for any history of substance use within a three-month detection window before employment. Successful candidates must then complete a two-week intensive training programme consisting of 12 safety modules, practical driving assessments, and written examinations.

Pathak reaffirmed that the company’s goal is to maintain transparency, ethical conduct, and robust safety systems that protect both its drivers and the general public. “Dangote is a responsible organisation,” he said, “and our commitment to road safety is unwavering.”