Dangote Refinery Defends Sacking Workers, Alleges Internal Sabotage

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has clarified its recent decision to embark on reorganisation of its operations and staff, saying the exercise “is not arbitrary.”

Pinnacle Daily reports that the company had in a letter sent to individual staff, announced disengagement of some staff with effect from the eve of Thursday, September 25, 2025.

The refinery management said its action was in response to repeated cases of sabotage threatening the safety of the 650,000 barrels per day facility.

The affected staffs were directed to hand over company property in their possession and await entitlements.

Reactions from Nigerians and labour unions have trailed the action. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) alleged that the action was targeted at Nigerian workers who had successfully joined labour unions, against the alleged wish of the refinery’s management.

Reacting to the reports, the management of the Dangote Refinery said in a statement released on Friday that the action was aimed at preventing repeated acts of sabotage that have posed a threat to safety and affected operational efficiency at the facility.

“The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as a result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns,” part of the statement reads.

The company said its actions are to ensure the long-term stability of the refinery, which it described as a “strategic national asset.”

“It is imperative to protect the refinery for the benefit of Nigerians, our partners across Africa, and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it.”

It stated that over 3,000 Nigerians are currently working in the Petroleum Refinery. It clarified that only a small number of staff were affected in the layoff, adding that more skilled Nigerians were being recruited through various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process.

The company also reiterated its commitment to upholding internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union. “Our commitment to workers’ rights is unwavering,” it stated.

“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, to strengthen Africa’s energy independence, and to create decent, sustainable jobs.

“We will continue to work in partnership with our employees, regulators, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability,” it added.

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Victor EZEJA

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Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X