Road Safety: Dangote Cement Empowers Drivers, Riders With Life-saving Kits

Dangote Cement Ibese Plant in Ogun State has intensified its Road safety campaign with a robust sensitisation programme for commercial drivers and motorcycle riders, emphasizing on the dangers of speeding and the life-saving importance of understanding a truck’s blind spots.

The event, held at the bustling Ilaro Motor Park, attracted hundreds of drivers and commercial motorcyclists from Ilaro and neighboring communities. The campaign aims to curb preventable crashes by promoting responsible driving and riding habits as vehicular traffic surges towards the year-end.

The Safety awareness campaign also saw the Cement Company distributing some safety kits to the Commercial motorcyclists. Items such as helmets, Reflective Jackets as well as safety goggles were freely gifted to the excited riders.

Speaking to the drivers and riders at Ilaro Motor Park, Assistant Corps Commander Sulaiman Oluwadumiye, Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), warned that excessive speed remains a leading cause of fatal crashes.

“Speed is sweet, the engine sounds powerful, the road looks open, and you feel in control. But the same speed that feels good for one minute can destroy a family in another second.

“The road has no respect for confidence or experience. There is no medal for the fastest driver and rider, only sorrow for the careless one,” Oluwadumiye cautioned.

He explained that speeding reduces a rider’s ability to spot danger and brake effectively, noting that articulated trucks pose even greater risks when control is lost.

Oluwadunmiye also educated participants on blind spots, the hidden areas around trucks where neither the driver’s eyes nor mirrors can see.

“Most crashes involving motorcycles and trucks happen because riders unknowingly enter these danger zones,” he said.

Facilitators demonstrated the four major blind spots, front, passenger side, driver’s side, and rear using live motorcycles and a stationed truck. Riders were stunned to discover that even an attentive driver could not see them in these zones.

Health, Safety and Environment, Dangote Cement Transport (Nigeria & Pan Africa), Ebere Okonkwo explained that the initiative aligns with Dangote Cement’s broader mission to promote safer roads and foster harmony between truck drivers and other road users.

“Safety is a shared responsibility. This programme teaches road users especially the drivers and riders how to identify blind spots and equips them with safety kits. It’s part of our continuous effort to save lives.

“Over speeding, impatience, and miscalculations remain leading causes of preventable road accidents,” Okonkwo said.

She said, “We urge riders to prioritise safe riding habits and strictly obey traffic regulations, especially during these remaining days into the New Year when vehicular movement peaks.”

The head of Transport and Safety at Ibese Plant, Peter Abuad led a practical session on basic issues in Road safety demonstrated how the drivers and the Okada riders could identify and avoid truck blind spots.

He highlighted four critical danger zones, directly in front, both sides, and behind heavy vehicles, warning riders to steer clear during lane changes and turns.

Officials from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE, Solomon Salako and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Obafemi Matemilola lauded Dangote Cement for its continuous investments in public safety and awareness programmes aimed at improving road behaviour by commercial drivers and riders across Ogun state.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme, David Odumoye thanked the management of Dangote Cement for deeming it fit to come to the park to meet the drivers and riders and enlighten them on road safety issues and donating safety items to them