Dangote denies smuggling almajiri,says only driver, assistant allowed

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The management of Dangote Industries Limited has said that the various allegations of its trucks being involved in smuggling northern youths into the southern parts of the country are not known to it.

The denial is coming on the heels of the recent out cry by states in the southern part of Nigeria especially the South East over the movement in droves of the youths (Almajiri’s) into the zone often hidden inside Dangote’s cargo trucks, despite restriction on inter-states movement.

In a letter to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, the company described the allegation in some quarters against it as false and misleading.

The Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer of the company, Anthony Chiejina, in a letter dated May 27, 2020, encouraged the public to help it rid the organisation of illegal haulage activities perpetuated by some persons without morals.

Chiejina explaining that Dangote company trucks were only permitted to carry Dangote products, including limestone, high grade gypsum and coal

He warned those illegally transporting materials on them, that their goods shall be confiscated and the drivers and owners of the goods prosecuted, and therefore appealed to the public to report any defaulting trucks to the company.

“We plead with the public that while making the report, to remember to include the following details: truck type, plate number, cab no, location, contents, colour of the truck and photographs of the truck and goods, if possible.

“The police and/or law enforcement agents are also authorised to arrest any Dangote driver involved in such illegal act,” he said.

He added that only two persons, the driver and his assistant, were authorised to be in the truck at any time.

It would be recalled that not long ago Ohanaeze President, Nwodo reportedly said vehicles belonging to the Aliko Dangote, were notorious in transporting Northern youths to the South.

In Abia State, two Dangote trucks were on the May 5th, intercepted while hauling 26 Northern youths ( Almajiris) hiding inside some buckets few meters from Ikwuano/ Akwa Ibom borders.

On Wednesday May 13, 2020, over 40 youths from the Northern part of the country were hidden in a Dangote truck that was intercepted at the Umudike Junction of Aba Road, Umuahia by men of Trafic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State(TIMAAS), and the police.