The President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has revealed that the company’s newly introduced fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks is expected to create no fewer than 24,000 jobs across Nigeria. This initiative, according to him, aligns with the group’s broader commitment to reducing operating costs, promoting cleaner energy, and boosting employment amid ongoing economic challenges.
Speaking on the sidelines of a recent industry forum, Dangote noted that the transition to CNG-powered logistics has already begun to deliver measurable benefits—not just in environmental impact, but also in terms of national savings and affordability. He disclosed that over the past year, the company’s shift away from traditional fuel sources has led to a significant reduction in petrol consumption, translating to a price cut of approximately ₦259 per litre for operational costs related to freight and distribution.
“This move is not just about cost-efficiency,” Dangote stated. “It’s about national impact. By deploying thousands of CNG trucks, we are not only reducing our reliance on petrol—which remains a highly subsidized and volatile commodity—we are also creating sustainable jobs and encouraging industrial growth.”
According to findings, the average cost of petrol in Nigeria hovered around ₦617 per litre in many parts of the country before the fuel subsidy was removed in 2023. The use of CNG has since become a strategic alternative for many industries seeking to curb fuel expenses and remain competitive.
Dangote’s announcement comes at a time when the federal government, through the Presidential CNG Initiative, is pushing for mass adoption of natural gas as a cleaner and cheaper energy source.
In addition to employment generation and fuel savings, Dangote emphasized the group’s internal commitment to employee welfare. He revealed that staff across various subsidiaries of the conglomerate currently earn salaries that are at least three times the national minimum wage, which stands at ₦30,000. This, he said, is part of a broader philosophy of rewarding productivity and ensuring a dignified livelihood for all employees.
The Dangote Group, one of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates, operates across multiple sectors including cement, sugar, salt, oil refining, and logistics. With the recent commissioning of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and increasing investments in energy infrastructure, the group is strategically positioning itself as a key player in Nigeria’s push towards self-sufficiency and economic diversification.
Analysts have hailed the company’s CNG initiative as a timely response to the realities of the post-subsidy economy. Beyond economic implications, the environmental benefits of reducing carbon emissions through cleaner fuel options also align with global climate action goals, which Nigeria is a signatory to under the Paris Agreement.
As the project unfolds, stakeholders in the transport, logistics, and energy sectors are watching closely, with expectations that other major players may follow suit in adopting alternative fuels. For now, the Dangote Group appears to be setting the pace not just in industrial innovation, but in corporate responsibility and national development.
