The management of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has distanced itself from the truck involved in a fatal accident on the Enugu–Port Harcourt highway on Wednesday, insisting that the vehicle does not belong to the company.
In a statement issued after reports widely linked the truck to Dangote, the company clarified that the vehicle was operated by Visco Investment Global Limited, a third-party logistics provider.
Background of the Incident
The crash, which occurred around 9 a.m., claimed the lives of several people, including members of the same family, and immediately sparked outrage after bystanders identified the truck as one belonging to the Dangote Group due to its branding.
Dangote’s Clarification
According to DIL, although the truck carried the company’s logo, it was not part of its official fleet. The statement suggested that the visible branding may have fueled the widespread assumption that Dangote was directly responsible for the incident.
“We are engaging with the appropriate agencies to find out why the truck was carrying our logo when it is not part of our fleet,” the company said.
The management further disclosed that it will introduce stricter measures to protect its brand identity and curb the unauthorized use of its logo on vehicles not owned or managed by the company.
Warning Against Misinformation
DIL expressed concern over what it described as “misinformation” linking tragedies to its operations without evidence, stressing that it ordinarily avoids commenting on individual cases but was compelled to do so in order to correct the record.
“Going forward, we will apply more scrutiny to the unauthorized use of our brand identity, especially the misuse of our logo on vehicles not linked to the Group.
We call on the public and the media to avoid spreading unverified claims.”
Support for Investigations
The company also pledged to cooperate fully with authorities investigating the crash and emphasized that the matter should be allowed to follow due process.
“We strongly reject attempts to exploit tragedies like this for malicious or financial gain. We remain committed to the highest standards of corporate responsibility, safety, and integrity,” the statement added.
Broader Context
The incident is the latest in a series of accidents involving heavy-duty trucks wrongly attributed to Dangote Group due to similarities in branding. Analysts have often highlighted the risks of brand identity misuse in the logistics sector, noting that it creates public confusion, reputational damage, and unnecessary backlash for companies like DIL.
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