Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has dismissed reports of mass sackings of its Nigerian workforce, clarifying that recent employee dismissals were part of a strategic reorganisation aimed at tackling sabotage within the facility.
Reports surfaced earlier, particularly from Daily Post, alleging that nearly all Nigerian employees were terminated less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, confirmed that workers had received termination letters late Wednesday, assuring that affected employees would eventually be recalled.
However, a senior Dangote Refinery official told The PUNCH that the terminations were being misinterpreted.
“Yes, the letter is correct, but the interpretation is wrong,” the official said. “This has nothing to do with union membership. It affects only certain individuals based on what was discovered in the refinery.”
According to the official, the move was a “clean-up exercise” designed to identify and eliminate sabotage and operational leakages.
“It is not a mass sack. The term ‘sack’ was not even used. This is a preventive measure to protect the refinery. Once investigations are completed and issues addressed, those cleared will be reabsorbed,” the official explained.
The company further noted that the reorganisation was conducted swiftly to prevent those allegedly involved in sabotage from covering their tracks.
“You cannot give two weeks’ notice in such situations. That would allow those behind the acts to conceal evidence and complicate the matter,” the official added.
Dangote Refinery reassured the public that operations were continuing normally with both Nigerian and expatriate workers still on duty.
“As we speak, people are still working at the refinery. Anyone who did not receive a letter remains unaffected. Those with no involvement in sabotage have nothing to worry about,” the company stated.
The $20 billion refinery, which began production in 2024, has previously clashed with labour unions, including PENGASSAN, over issues ranging from safety standards to employee welfare. The company has also faced disputes with the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria over pricing and distribution arrangements.
