A rising wave of fatal accidents involving Dangote cement trucks has triggered outrage and fresh calls for accountability, after another crash claimed three lives in Edo State on Sunday.
The incident, which occurred along the Auchi–Okpella–Okene highway near Omega Fire Ministries, saw a Dangote truck with alleged brake failure plough into three vehicles, including a Mercedes GLK that was crushed beyond repair. Two men and a woman died instantly, while a fourth victim sustained serious injuries.
Confirming the tragedy, Edo Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cyril Mathew, blamed the crash on mechanical failure and poor maintenance. He urged haulage companies, particularly Dangote, to prioritise safety standards to prevent further bloodshed.
This latest accident comes just days after Ruth Otabor, sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Phyna, lost her leg in a collision with another Dangote truck in Auchi. The 22-year-old had graduated from Auchi Polytechnic less than a week earlier before the crash changed her life forever.
The back-to-back incidents have raised concerns about the growing menace of Dangote trucks on Nigerian highways. Road safety advocates argue that the company’s heavy-duty fleet, which dominates the country’s cement distribution network, has become a recurring feature in many deadly crashes.
Critics are now demanding government intervention, insisting that the cement giant’s haulage operations require stricter regulation, independent safety audits, and harsher penalties for non-compliance.
“Lives are being wasted on our highways because of poor oversight and corporate negligence,” said a civil society activist in Benin. “Dangote must be held to account — no brand should be too big for the law.”
As investigations continue, grieving families are left to count their losses, while public trust in road safety enforcement continues to wear thin.
