Dangote Cement hosts a major drivers’ retreat at Obajana to promote road safety and discipline.
Executives, experts and community leaders urge truck drivers to embrace safe habits and technology-driven monitoring.
Dangote Cement Plc has organized a special drivers’ retreat at its Obajana plant in Kogi State, reaffirming its commitment to promoting road safety and best practices in fleet management.
The event brought together hundreds of truck drivers, senior executives, and community leaders in an interactive session designed to deepen safety culture, discipline, and accountability among the company’s transport workforce.
In his keynote address, Group Managing Director Arvid Pathak stressed the importance of discipline behind the wheel and the company’s zero-tolerance approach to unsafe driving.
“Your life is very precious, so take care of yourselves. You have families, and your families need you,” he told the drivers, adding that sessions on defensive driving, fatigue management, and vehicle maintenance were central to the retreat.
Pathak also warned against drug use and proxy driving, practices he described as dangerous and unacceptable.
Head of Transport Murilo Silva revealed that Dangote is building technology-driven control towers at Obajana to enable real-time monitoring of driver behavior, aiming to reduce accidents and improve efficiency.
“Over speeding is one of the leading causes of road crashes involving heavy trucks. Always keep within the approved speed limit. You are the face of Dangote, give way when necessary, be patient, and respect smaller vehicles,” Silva cautioned.
Other senior officials echoed this message. Dr. James Adenuga, Group Head of Health, Safety, Social, Environment & Sustainability, reminded drivers of their responsibility beyond cargo.
“Every time you drive out of this plant, you carry not just cement, but lives, reputations, and the pride of this company,” he said.
Transport expert Samuel Odo emphasized that most recent auto crashes were preventable and urged drivers to build a culture of safety by repeating good habits daily, from wearing seatbelts to checking tyres.
The retreat, themed “Drive Safely, Arrive Safely,” also highlighted community perspectives. The Bajana of Obajana, HRH Idowu Isenibi, and the Olu of Apata, HRH Federick Balogun, praised Dangote’s role in creating jobs while urging drivers to respect traffic regulations.
The event concluded with an awards session, recognizing drivers who demonstrated exceptional professionalism, discipline, and adherence to safety standards.
