Enugu Crash: Dangote Group clears the air

Dangote Group has distanced itself from the truck that claimed lives in a ghastly accident in Enugu on Wednesday, insisting the vehicle does not belong to its fleet.

The accident, which happened around 9am, involved a Howo truck loaded with cement and a Toyota Corolla along the Enugu–Aba–Abuja route.

Eyewitnesses said the truck bore the markings of Visco Investment Global Limited, but its Dangote-branded logo quickly set off a storm online, with many assuming it was yet another case of a “Dangote truck of death.”

The company, however, wasted no time pushing back.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Dangote Group said the vehicle was operated by a third party and accused mischief-makers of spreading falsehood.

“We are engaging the appropriate agencies to find out why the truck was carrying our logo when it is not part of our fleet. Going forward, we will apply more scrutiny to the unauthorised use of our brand identity,” the Group said.

Dangote stressed that misinformation forced its hand to respond, even though it normally avoids commenting on individual cases.

“We call on the public and the media to avoid spreading unverified claims,” it added, pledging full cooperation with authorities investigating the matter.

The rebuttal comes amid growing anger from Nigerians who have long accused Dangote-branded trucks of turning highways into death traps.

Only last month, tragedy struck in Auchi, Edo State, when Ruth Otabor, younger sister of Big Brother Naija winner Phyna, died after her leg was crushed by a truck linked to the conglomerate. The 27-year-old, who had just graduated from Auchi Polytechnic, passed away after an amputation.

Her family, through their lawyers, accused the company of neglect and vowed to pursue justice.

The Enugu crash now reopens old wounds and fuels fresh calls for stricter regulation of heavy-duty vehicles tied to the Dangote name.