Dangote Group Refutes Ownership of Truck in Akungba-Akoko Accident

Dangote Group has refuted reports circulating on social media and in some online platforms linking it to a truck involved in a road accident in Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The company wishes to make it categorically clear that the truck involved in the unfortunate incident does not belong to Dangote Group or any of its subsidiaries.

Verified vehicle registration details confirm that the truck with Plate No. JJJ 365 XB, is owned and operated by an independent logistics company with no affiliation to Dangote Group. For the avoidance of doubt, the truck was not conveying any Dangote products but was transporting crushed stones in reused sacks bearing various brand names.

Dangote Industries maintains a strict policy on fleet management and vehicle identification, ensuring that all its trucks are properly branded, tracked, and operated by trained personnel under rigorous safety and compliance standards. For clarity, all genuine Dangote trucks carry distinct company markings and fleet numbers, making them easily identifiable.

While the company deeply sympathises with all those affected by the incident, it urges members of the public and the media to verify information before attributing ownership or involvement to Dangote Group. The company also advises media organisations to refrain from using images of Dangote-branded trucks in connection with accidents or incidents unrelated to its operations.

Dangote Industries remains steadfast in its commitment to road safety, regulatory compliance, and responsible corporate citizenship across all its operations in Nigeria and beyond.

*At GECF Doha Day 1, Nigeria’s Midstream Sector on the Front Burner

Today, as the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) opened in Doha, Qatar, Nigeria has placed its midstream gas development agenda at the centre of discussions, reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of transforming natural gas into the cornerstone of the nation’s industrial growth and energy diplomacy.

Leading the Federal Government delegation, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the administration’s focus on midstream gas infrastructure from processing plants to pipelines, storage, and conversion facilities, underscores President Tinubu’s determination to move Nigeria from a resource-dependent economy to a fully integrated gas-powered industrial nation. “President Tinubu has made it clear that gas is the pathway to a more prosperous, energy-secure, and industrialised Nigeria. Our engagements at the GECF are designed to attract partnerships and investments that will accelerate this transformation and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a dependable global energy partner,” Ekpo stated.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) led by its Authority Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, represented Nigeria in today’s extraordinary Governing Board sessions and side meetings, highlighting ongoing efforts to stabilise and expand the domestic gas value chain. He said Nigeria’s gas reforms and enhancements to the regulatory environment are unlocking opportunities for both domestic utilisation and international collaboration across the value chain.

According to Engr. Ahmed, “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, the Nigerian gas sector has moved from policy promises to measurable progress. Our regulatory clarity, infrastructure expansion, and focus on cleaner energy solutions have made the midstream segment the heartbeat of Nigeria’s energy reform,” Ahmed said.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, had earlier noted that Nigeria’s participation at the GECF is in line with President Tinubu’s foreign policy objectives, which place economic diplomacy and energy cooperation at the core of international engagement. “Energy diplomacy is one of the anchors of the Renewed Hope Agenda. Nigeria’s active role at the GECF reflects the President’s commitment to ensuring that Africa has a strong, responsible, and respected voice in shaping the global energy transition,” Tuggar said.

Nigeria’s delegation will continue high-level engagements throughout the week as discussions progress on global gas cooperation, energy transition strategies, and leadership of the Forum. The delegation is also expected to present Nigeria’s official candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the GECF later during the Ministerial Session on Thursday.

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), headquartered in Doha, brings together leading gas-producing nations to foster cooperation, promote market stability, and support the efficient use of natural gas for global development. Nigeria, a founding member, continues to champion policies that strengthen Africa’s role in the global energy system.

“ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Sujimoto to Petition and Sue Over $556K Fraud Smear — ‘Delay Is Not Deceit.”

— Accuses Detractors of False and Malicious Publications

“There is no fraud, nor any falsehood. What exists is a delay and nothing more. Yet from this delay, some have chosen to fabricate lies, weaponize rumors, and maliciously mislead the public. Let it be clear: those responsible for instigating and spreading these defamatory claims will be held fully accountable, legally, morally, and shall pay for every damage they have caused.”

When an entrepreneur dares to build what has never been done before, he must first make peace with the storms that come to test his conviction. But to mistake delay for deceit is not only false — it is dangerous to truth itself. For twelve unbroken years, Sujimoto has chosen the harder path: rejecting shortcuts, defying cynicism, and building brick by brick through sleepless nights, sacrifice, and an unyielding faith that Africa deserves architecture that inspires.

The Leonardo by Sujimoto remains one of the continent’s most daring and technically sophisticated luxury developments. Ambition that vast cannot be rushed; its clock is governed not only by concrete and cranes, but by bureaucracy, tedious approvals, and an economy that shifts and strains with every policy change. No one was duped. No one was misled. Our client acted in good faith, approvals were secured last year, and though the project slowed, it was never denied, abandoned, or defrauded.

Unfortunately, some of our most honest and hard-working customers have requested refunds. Some have been patient, while others have been aggressive — and we have honored them all.

We have never compromised. We have faced countless challenges, yet our commitment to integrity remains absolute. Beyond fulfilling contracts, we have helped our customers maximize profits through off-take agreements. Take Giuliano, for example: the first buyer purchased at ₦285 million. Today, less than six years later, the project is worth ₦2.5 billion. Rent now commands ₦100 million; it is fully booked and fully sold out.

When cement skyrocketed from ₦2,000 to ₦10,000, who absorbs the cost? We do. The buyer does not want to hear this, yet it is reality. During construction, steel surged from ₦500,000 to ₦1.3 million, and we did not compromise. A single 40-foot container costs ₦4 million and later ₦24 million. Still, we refused shortcuts. Every brick, every beam, every detail has been delivered with integrity, despite the market’s relentless squeeze.

Every investor has been engaged directly, and those requesting refunds are being settled through a transparent, structured, and verifiable process. Meanwhile, the Lucrezia — once slowed by the same economic headwinds that rattled an entire industry — now stands on the brink of completion, set for delivery in December 2025, with every fully paid homeowner poised to receive their keys.

It is deeply concerning that public institutions are now being misused to settle civil disputes and punish enterprises. What should have remained a private contractual matter has been paraded as a crime, turning law enforcement into debt collectors. Sujimoto is pursuing firm legal redress against those behind these malicious falsehoods, and those responsible shall pay for the damages they have caused.

Sujimoto is not merely a company; it is a creed — a fellowship of architects, artisans, and engineers bound by a shared pursuit of excellence. We have empowered thousands, paid over ₦7 billion in wages in the past 12 years, and built monuments that speak where falsehood falls silent.

In a nation where haste is mistaken for progress and ambition for arrogance, it has become easy to weaponize delay. Yet progress, like justice, is slow only to those who lack patience. Our only “crime” is daring to dream beyond the comfort zone of ordinary builders — and for that, we shall never apologise.

Some may not like Sujimoto — his relentless ambition, his boldness, his refusal to follow the ordinary. Some may call him loud, too forward, even audacious. Yet no one can deny his work. His projects speak for themselves — unmatched in vision, execution, and impact. To question the man is human; to question the monument he builds is impossible.

Sujimoto does not build for applause. We build for permanence. And when The Leonardo finally rises — not if, but when — it will stand as a monument to truth: proof that audacious vision outlives the noise, and that gold is forged only through fire.

Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele is the Group Managing Director of Sujimoto Holdings, the Czar of Luxury Real Estate Development, and the mastermind developer behind the renowned Giuliano. Our other audacious projects, such as the most sophisticated building in Banana Island, LucreziaBySujimoto, the grandiose Sujimoto Twin Tower, the tallest twin towers in Africa; the regal Queen Amina by Sujimoto, a monument to royal affluence; the magnificent high-rise LeonardoBySujimoto; the Sujimoto Farm; an advanced farm estate system that incorporates housing, farm hospitals, hotels, and markets within an ecosystem, creating opportunities for agro-tourism and affordable housing., among other projects that have etched an indelible imprint on Nigeria’s skylines, a testament to Sujimoto’s unrivalled mastery of modern-day engineering.