Dangote Cement Transport has won the Champion of Transport Industry Development Award from the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) for its contributions to road transport operations, safety standards and logistics efficiency in Nigeria.
The award was presented at the 3rd Transport Summit organised by TCAN in Lagos, which brought together key stakeholders, policymakers, regulators and industry leaders to discuss strategies for transforming Nigeria’s transport sector and promoting sustainable growth.
Leader of the Dangote Cement delegation and Head of Dangote Cement Transport, Mr Murilo Silva, received the award on behalf of the transport management.
Silva said the recognition reflected the commitment of the company’s transport workforce, drivers, safety teams and operational partners to safety, innovation and operational excellence.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this award from the Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria. This recognition reflects Dangote Cement Transport’s unwavering commitment to developing a safe, efficient and sustainable transport system that supports economic growth and national development,” he said.
According to him, transportation remains critical to industrialisation, trade and economic growth, adding that Dangote Cement will continue to invest in technology, safety initiatives and operational efficiency to raise industry standards.
“At Dangote Cement, we recognise that transportation is much more than moving goods from one point to another. It is a vital link in the nation’s economic ecosystem.
“We will continue to deploy innovative solutions, strengthen our safety culture and collaborate with stakeholders to improve road transport operations across the country,” he added.
Silva dedicated the award to the company’s transport professionals, drivers, engineers, safety personnel and logistics teams whose work ensures the movement of products across its distribution network.
“This award belongs to our drivers, safety professionals and every member of our transport team who work tirelessly every day to ensure that our operations are safe, reliable and efficient. Their dedication continues to inspire our pursuit of excellence,” he said.
The award highlights Dangote Cement Transport’s investments in fleet management, driver training, road safety and technology-driven transport solutions.
Calls for integrated transport system
A highlight of the summit was a presentation by Dr Segun Obayendo, Technical Assistant on Transportation to Nigeria’s Vice-President, who called for the establishment of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)-style transport systems in all 36 states.
Obayendo said the Presidency had commenced a Presidential Initiative on Road Transport Transformation to improve transport planning, coordination and service delivery nationwide.
He said replicating the LAMATA model across the states would promote more efficient, integrated and sustainable transport systems capable of supporting economic development and improving mobility.
Participants at the summit also called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, transport operators, private-sector organisations and development partners to address infrastructure challenges, improve safety and accelerate innovation.
Oyetola seeks seaport modernisation
Also speaking at the summit, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the cost, speed, reliability and predictability of moving goods have direct implications for investment, production, trade and employment.
Oyetola, who was represented by Mr Paul Ganuwa, Director of Inland Transport Services at the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), said port and waterway performance could not be considered in isolation because they form part of a wider logistics chain involving roads, rail, warehouses and distribution networks.
He said, with President Bola Tinubu’s approval, the ministry was set to commence what he described as the country’s most ambitious seaport modernisation programme in more than five decades.
The programme covers Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos, Onne Port, Rivers Port, Calabar Port and Warri Port. It includes reconstruction of quay walls, channel deepening to accommodate larger vessels, replacement of obsolete cargo-handling equipment and further digitalisation of terminal and gate operations.
According to him, the objective is to increase capacity, reduce vessel and cargo-handling delays and lower logistics costs.
He added that the ministry was working with sub-national governments and private-sector partners on deep-sea port developments in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers states to expand capacity and reduce pressure on existing gateways.
Oyetola described the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency Act 2026 as an important reform, saying the law provides a permanent framework for regulating tariffs and charges, service standards, competition and the protection of port users.
NRC seeks rail-road-maritime integration
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Aderibigbe, called for stronger integration of rail, road and maritime transportation to reduce logistics costs, boost trade and unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
Opeifa said Nigeria needed a transport network in which rail, road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation complement one another rather than operate in isolation.
He said rail transport could ease pressure on highways, lower logistics costs and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products and containers.
According to him, the NRC is strengthening freight operations and connections to seaports, inland dry ports and industrial centres as part of efforts to improve Nigeria’s multimodal transport system.
