President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has reaffirmed his commitment to tackling unemployment in Nigeria, insisting that his companies will continue to create jobs despite criticisms surrounding the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks.
Speaking at the company’s refinery complex, Dangote dismissed claims that the new fleet would displace workers, stressing that the initiative is generating rather than eliminating employment.
“Our trucks are not driven by robots. Nobody has been pushed out of work,” he told reporters. “We are creating more jobs, not fewer. Our drivers earn three times the national minimum wage and receive a package that includes life and health insurance, covering themselves, their spouses, and up to four children, as well as a lifelong pension.”
He added that drivers who work for five years without accidents qualify for housing loans, while union membership remains a matter of personal choice. Beyond drivers, the CNG project is employing mechanics, fleet managers, and other professionals across the logistics chain.
Dangote acknowledged that building the refinery and associated infrastructure has been fraught with difficulties, noting that critics—ranging from investors to government officials—had repeatedly warned him that such projects were the domain of sovereign nations.
“The decision to build the refinery was not easy. If it had gone wrong, lenders would have taken our assets,” he said. “But we believed in Nigeria and in Africa.”
Despite those risks, the refinery has begun to reshape Nigeria’s downstream sector. According to Dangote, petrol prices have dropped from nearly ₦1,100 before production started to ₦841 in the Southwest, Abuja, Delta, Rivers, Edo, and Kwara. He expressed optimism that as CNG trucks become more widespread, the impact of lower prices will reach the entire country.
The facility, he added, is equipped to meet domestic demand while also boosting Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. Between June and early September 2025, the refinery exported more than 1.1 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), underscoring its dual role in supporting local supply and contributing to the broader economy.
