The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed reports of mass sackings at its facility, saying only a small number of workers were affected by an internal reorganisation aimed at improving safety and operations.
In a statement issued on Friday, titled “Dangote Petroleum Refinery Reorganisation: Commitment to Safety, Integrity and Workers’ Rights,” the company clarified that the restructuring was necessary following multiple incidents of sabotage within the facility.
“This exercise is not arbitrary,” the statement said. “It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that posed serious safety risks and disrupted operational efficiency.”
The refinery, which began operations in early 2024 and is considered one of Africa’s most strategic industrial projects, reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s energy future and employment generation. According to the company, more than 3,000 Nigerians are still actively working at the plant, with new recruitment also ongoing.
“Only a very small number of staff were affected,” the statement added, noting that the refinery continues to recruit new talent through graduate trainee programmes and experienced-hire processes.
Addressing concerns over workers’ rights and unionisation, the company stated: “We recognise and uphold the internationally accepted right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union. Our commitment to workers’ rights is unwavering.”
This comes in response to earlier reports, including a publication by Daily Post, which claimed that the refinery dismissed all Nigerian workers just a day after about 90% joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). Union president Festus Osifo confirmed the development and insisted the affected workers would be reinstated.
The incident also comes amid renewed tensions between Dangote Refinery and labour unions. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has repeatedly demanded that all workers at the refinery be allowed to join unions without interference. PENGASSAN has also warned it may join in industrial actions if the dispute is not resolved.
Earlier this month, NUPENG suspended a planned nationwide strike after an agreement was reached that allowed workers to unionise, with a deadline set for September 22. The refinery reportedly assured the union that no employee would be punished for choosing to join.
The Dangote Refinery, located in Lagos, is Africa’s largest single-train refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It is a key part of Nigeria’s plan to end fuel imports and achieve energy self-sufficiency.
Despite its potential, the refinery has faced operational setbacks, including shutdowns for maintenance and pressure over its forward integration model — a strategy that involves distributing fuel directly to end users. Critics argue this could sideline traditional marketers and lead to job losses across the petroleum distribution chain.
Industry stakeholders have urged regulatory bodies to ensure fair competition and prevent monopolistic practices as the refinery expands operations, including fuel exports beyond West Africa.
