The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has dismissed claims of monopolistic practices as the company rolled out 1,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks in Lagos.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Dangote said the company had already invested ₦2 trillion in trucks and logistics. He disclosed that 4,000 CNG trucks had been ordered from China for direct fuel distribution, adding that the fleet would ease transportation challenges and stabilise fuel supply.

Petrol marketers had recently accused the company of trying to dominate the downstream petroleum sector. But Dangote insisted this was not the case.

“We are not here to take anyone out of the market,” he said. “The trucks we are deploying have already created 24,000 jobs, with salaries four times the minimum wage.”

He revealed that the company had purchased a total of 10,000 trucks, including CNG and dry cargo carriers, which he said would help modernise Nigeria’s transport system.

“Every day, trucks will be arriving. By the end of November, we will have 10,250 CNG trucks in operation,” he assured.

Looking ahead, Dangote disclosed plans to introduce electric vehicles by January 2026, alongside the refinery’s expanding output. He also said Nigeria was on track to become the world’s largest fertiliser producer, which he described as “a big celebration for the country.”

“Our aim is to modernise, generate jobs daily, and make life easier for Nigerians. We will not be distracted by union noise,” he added.

According to him, the group currently lifts 40,000 tonnes of diesel each month and has exported over 1.6 billion litres of fuel.

Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery’s newly acquired CNG trucks began loading petroleum products at the facility on Monday for direct distribution to filling stations nationwide. Witnesses reported that the trucks took turns at the gantry to load fuel.

The refinery had earlier announced in August that it had received the first batch of its CNG-powered trucks, with operations initially scheduled to commence on 15 August.