President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that truck drivers in his company are paid nearly four times the national minimum wage, making them some of the best-paid workers in their category in Nigeria.
Dangote made the disclosure on Tuesday during an interview with Arise Television, where he addressed concerns about job losses and workers’ welfare in the oil and gas transportation sector.
According to him, contrary to fears expressed by some members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the introduction of new trucks by the company will not displace workers but instead create thousands of jobs.
“The trucks we launched didn’t stop anyone from their work. People are saying there will be a loss of jobs—are our tankers going to be driven by robots? Each truck involves about six people. So, these trucks they are fighting over will create about 24,000 jobs,” he said.
Dangote further stressed that salaries in his logistics arm are highly competitive compared to national standards.
“Our salary is almost three or four times the minimum wage. After five years without any accidents, a driver can apply and get a house loan. Our drivers actually earn more than graduates. If you look at their monthly pay, it’s nearly four times the national minimum wage,” he explained.
He also emphasized that joining NUPENG should be a voluntary decision for workers, not an imposed condition.
The remarks come amid debates over employment conditions in the transportation sector, with Dangote insisting that his company provides sustainable job opportunities and incentives that surpass industry averages.
