The Federal Road Safety Corps has entered into a strategic partnership with Dangote Cement Transport in a renewed effort to address the rising incidence of road traffic crashes involving articulated vehicles, particularly those linked to the Dangote Group.

The collaboration was formalized during a high-level meeting held at the FRSC Headquarters in Abuja, where both parties agreed on practical steps to strengthen transport safety policies and reduce accidents involving the company’s fleet.

In a statement released on Thursday and signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, who presided over the meeting, described the engagement as a timely response to growing public concern over frequent crashes involving Dangote trucks.

“This engagement is more than a response to recent incidents. It is a proactive step to ensure that lives are saved, confidence is restored, and the Nigerian motoring public is assured of safer highways.

“The FRSC and Dangote Cement Transport share a common responsibility, and together we must drive down crash statistics by investing in training, compliance, and innovation,” Mohammed said.

Representing Dangote Cement Transport at the meeting was Murillo Silva, who joined FRSC officials in discussions aimed at finding long-term solutions to safety challenges in the company’s logistics operations.

According to the statement, the meeting addressed several key areas of improvement. These include the development of structured training and retraining programmes for Dangote truck drivers, in accordance with the National Skills Qualification Framework, the enforcement of regular vehicle maintenance schedules, and the installation of essential safety devices to prevent mechanical failures.

Also discussed was the creation of joint safety programmes that would not only target Dangote’s fleet but serve as a model for other fleet operators across the country.

Beyond the partnership, the corps has stepped up its efforts nationwide to improve road safety. These include enhanced driver training and recertification programmes, particularly for operators of articulated vehicles, as well as intensified public education campaigns and routine safety checks.

Mohammed urged other transport companies and corporate bodies to follow Dangote’s lead by opening up their operations to safety audits and embracing joint training initiatives.

The latest efforts by FRSC came amid heightened public scrutiny following a tragic incident involving a Dangote truck last month.

Ruth Otabor, the sister of Big Brother Naija reality star, Phyna, died after being critically injured in a road crash involving a Dangote truck and a commercial motorcycle near the Auchi Polytechnic Sports Complex in Edo State.

Otabor, a young mother and recent graduate, was involved in the August 13, 2025, crash. She suffered severe injuries that led to the amputation of one of her limbs before her death. (The PUNCH)