“We Will Roll Out Electric Vehicles by January 2026” — Dangote

Dangote Group has unveiled ambitious plans for the future of Nigeria’s transport sector, announcing that electric vehicles will join its fleet by January 2026. The announcement came as the company rolled out 1,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks in Lagos, a move aimed at stabilising fuel distribution and modernising logistics.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote dismissed claims that the company is monopolising the petroleum downstream sector. He revealed that Dangote Group has invested ₦2 trillion in trucks and logistics, with a total of 4,000 CNG trucks ordered from China to support direct fuel distribution across the country.

Addressing accusations from petrol marketers, Dangote said, “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 added that the company has purchased 10,000 trucks in total, including both CNG and dry cargo carriers, with the fleet expected to reach 10,250 CNG trucks by the end of November.

Looking ahead, Dangote highlighted the company’s plans to expand into electric vehicles alongside the growth of its refinery capacity. He also emphasised Nigeria’s emerging role as a major fertiliser producer, describing the development 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,” Dangote said. The group currently lifts 40,000 tonnes of diesel monthly, and over 1.6 billion litres of fuel have already been exported.

The newly deployed CNG trucks began loading petroleum products at Dangote Refinery on Monday, with the first batch taking turns at the gantry to supply filling stations nationwide. This rollout follows the refinery’s August announcement that the fuel distribution programme would commence with 4,000 CNG-powered trucks.