By Adewale Sanyaolu
Chairman, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Lagos branch, Alhaji Kayode Odunowo has dismissed worries in various quarters that the planned roll-out of 4,000 CNG trucks by Dangote Refinery will chase tanker owners out of business, insisting that the association was not bothered in any way as this was not the first time Dangote will announce initiatives that will shake the industry.
In a telephone interview with Daily Sun, Odunowo said: “There was a time when Dangote Refinery rolled out about 1,000 CNG trucks for its other operations. Today, where are those trucks?
“It is not enough to roll-out trucks. But the mainstay is a comprehensive maintenance structure to keep those trucks on the roads alongside disciplined drivers.
“We are watching to see how far they can go with this new fuel distribution plan,”he said.
With the planned roll-out of the CNG trucks by Dangote Refinery, many industry stakeholders inferred that over one million petroleum tankers operations may shut down as powering fuel trucking by diesel will be a business suicide if a competitor comes with CNG trucks.
The umbrella body of truck operators in the country, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) recently put the number of 60,000 litres fuel trucks in operation at about 2,000.
The number does not include trucks with 45,000 litres capacity and below.
Speaking with Daily Sun in a telephone interview, Chairman of Lagos NARTO, Alhaji Kayode Odunowo, said members in Lagos alone boast of more than 500 trucks.
He added that the combined truck strength of NARTO members across the country is approximately one million.
National President of NARTO, Yusuf Othman, recently expressed fear over the federal government’s plan to ban 60,000 litres capacity tankers, following the rising cases of accidents involving fuel those tankers.
Othman said such a move would cause a loss of N300 billion worth of investments by the tanker owners.
The federal government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), recently placed a ban on 60,000 litres capacity petroleum tankers, due to incessant accidents/deaths involving them in the country.
However, the planned introduction of 4,000 CNG trucks would further deal a debilitating blow on the operations of NARTO members as trucks with 60,000 litres and those below could be wiped off the road in view of the cost effect strength of CNG trucks to be introduced by Dangote.
Dangote Refinery in its effort to reshape Nigeria’s energy landscape on Sunday announced that it will commence the nationwide distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel, beginning August 15, 2025.
This is expected to bridge supply gaps, stabilise prices and improve fuel access across the country.
Distribution will be open to a broad spectrum of buyers, including petroleum marketers, petrol station operators, manufacturers, telecommunications companies, aviation firms, and other large-volume fuel users.
In a strategic boost to the logistics backbone of this plan, the refinery has deployed 4,000 brand-new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tankers to ensure efficient and eco-friendly product delivery to every part of the country.
“This is a significant national initiative designed to transform Nigeria’s fuel distribution landscape.
“Our goal is to provide equitable access to affordable fuel for all Nigerians, regardless of location, making energy more accessible and sustainable for everyone, wherever they may be”, the company stated.
In addition to the tankers, the refinery is also investing heavily in CNG refuelling infrastructure, including daughter booster stations strategically located across Nigeria. These will be supported by a separate fleet of over 100 CNG tankers dedicated to sustaining a seamless product distribution network.
The logistics support, offered at no cost to buyers, is part of Dangote Refinery’s wider commitment to eliminating bottlenecks in the downstream petroleum value chain, reducing logistics costs, improving efficiency, and promoting cleaner fuel alternatives.
“All petrol stations purchasing PMS and diesel from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will benefit from this enhanced logistics support.
“Key sectors such as manufacturing and telecommunications will also gain from this transformative initiative, as reduced fuel costs will contribute to lower production costs, reduced inflation, and foster economic growth”, the statement added.
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