Dangote Brags: “My Drivers Earn More Than Graduates”
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has sparked fresh reactions after boldly claiming that drivers working for his group earn fatter paychecks than many Nigerian graduates, and nearly four times the minimum wage.
He made the remark in an interview with Arise TV, while responding to allegations from the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The union had accused Dangote and his ally, Sayyu Dantata, of attempting to monopolise oil distribution and suppress workers’ rights through their new fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks.
NUPENG, supported by NARTO and the NLC, had even threatened a nationwide strike, warning that the move could push out independent transporters and weaken unionised workers.
But Dangote hit back, insisting that his trucks were not displacing anyone’s job. Instead, he claimed the venture would create 24,000 jobs, each truck employing about six people. He further boasted of benefits, including housing loans for drivers who stay five years accident-free.
In his words: “Our drivers earn more than graduates. If you look at what they earn in a month, it’s almost four times the national minimum wage.”
Why this matters in Naija:
At a time when millions of Nigerian graduates roam the streets jobless or earn peanuts in offices, Dangote’s revelation raises a serious debate—are blue-collar jobs now paying better than white-collar ones? With unemployment biting hard, many young people may start eyeing steering wheels instead of office desks.
Do you think Dangote is flexing or simply exposing the sad reality of graduate pay in Nigeria? Share your thoughts and don’t forget to subscribe to Update Villa for more updates.
