The Ameh News Editorial Comments: Is Dangote’s CNG Truck Push Sustainable?

As Dangote moves boldly to disrupt the petroleum value chain by deploying 4,000 CNG-powered trucks, we at The Ameh News appreciate the intent but remain cautious about its sustainability and the heavy strain it may put on our roads.

While this move promises faster delivery and reduced reliance on traditional petroleum transport, many industry stakeholders are worried that adding such a large number of heavy-duty trucks to the highway network, especially routes linking Lagos to the North, could accelerate wear and tear and compromise road safety.

Some analysts make a strong case for developing a pipeline network directly from the Lekki refinery into the hinterland, a solution that would enable faster delivery while preserving highway infrastructure.

Additionally, we believe a more pragmatic approach lies in establishing two major depots to ease delivery pressure, one in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, to serve the southern region and another in Abuja for the Middle Belt and the North. The South-South coastline/Easterners part, particularly Akwa Ibom or Calabar’s water jetties, offers a viable delivery route directly into the region via barges. From there, products can be offloaded and efficiently distributed by road over shorter distances, reducing delivery time, minimizing highway congestion, and cutting down on maintenance costs for both roads and vehicles. This forward-thinking strategy would ease congestion, cut delivery times, and make distribution more cost-effective.

While we commend Dangote’s innovations and forward momentum, we urge regulators, stakeholders, and policy makers to collaborate in designing a well-coordinated and sustainable delivery framework — blending road and pipeline logistics — that safeguards both the country’s infrastructure and its energy needs.

Highlights of Our Thinking:

• The heavy reliance on trucks could undermine highway stability and raise maintenance costs.
• Pipelines remain a faster, more sustainable delivery solution.
• Establishing two major depots (Ijebu Ode and Abuja) could ease congestion and enable more efficient delivery.
• Collaborative policy making is crucial to securing a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective distribution network for petroleum products across the country.