Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has denied the ownership of the truck that caused the accident at Iworoko Ekiti.
Fifteen people allegedly died in the accident on Saturday night.
In a statement yesterday, the management of DIL frowned at what it called the misleading and unverified report carried by an online medium that a Dangote truck was responsible for the accident.
The company wondered why some journalists rushed to the press without verifying information at their disposal, thereby reporting falsehood.
It said the truck does not belong to Dangote, as reported by the medium.
The statement said: “While we commiserate with the families of the deceased and pray for God’s strength to bear the loss of their loved ones, it is important to state that the affected truck does not belong to our company.
“DIL does not import or produce rice for the market or for any individual or entity. Our trucks are also not meant to carry third party goods as we have consistently requested the public to report any such illegal action by our drivers to us for monetary rewards.”
The management of DIL recently issued an appeal to the public to monitor and report recklessness and illegal haulage of contraband by any of its truck drivers with a cash reward of N250, 000 per report.
The company, in a paid advertisement in electronic and print media, warned those “illegally transporting unauthorised goods with the company’s trucks” to desist from such.
It said the drivers and the owner of such goods would be arrested and prosecuted.
To clarify its position, the management listed its products and the goods the over 10,000 trucks operating across the country and neighbouring West African countries could convey.
It said: “Dangote trucks are permitted to transport only the following materials: Dangote Cement Plc – Dangote cement, limestone, high grade gypsum and coal; Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc – Dangote sugar; NASCON Allied Industries Plc – Dangote salt and DanQ seasoning; Agrosacks Industries Limited – Bags; Dangote Flour Mills Plc – Dangote wheat, flour and Danvita.”