Dangote Refinery Reorganises Workforce Amid Sabotage Allegations,Denies Mass Sack

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has initiated a major reorganisation of its operations and workforce as a direct response to repeated sabotage incidents threatening the safety and functionality of its 650,000 barrels-per-day facility.

In a letter dated September 24, 2025, signed by Femi Adekunle, Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, affected staff were instructed to surrender all company property and await formal clearance before receiving their entitlements. This move followed several reported sabotage acts in various refinery units that raised significant safety concerns.

Contrary to circulating reports claiming a mass sack of workers, a senior official from Dangote Refinery clarified to journalists that the exercise is a strategic “clean-up” aimed at plugging operational leakages and protecting company assets. The official emphasized that the process does not equate to an outright dismissal. Rather, affected employees are temporarily disengaged pending investigations, with the prospect of reabsorption once issues are resolved.

“This isn’t a sack, and that word was deliberately not used,” the official stated, adding that the sudden nature of the exercise was meant to prevent perpetrators from covering up their acts. Operations continue unabated, with both Nigerian and expatriate employees actively at work. Those not implicated in sabotage remain unaffected and can carry on without concerns.

The refinery, which began production in 2024 with expectations of ending Nigeria’s long reliance on imported fuel, has faced turbulent industrial relations marked by disputes with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and other stakeholders. The union had previously accused the refinery of unfair labour practices and high-handedness regarding unionisation rights and safety standards.

The ongoing row intensified after many Nigerian workers at the refinery reportedly joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), leading to allegations from the union that Dangote had laid off all Nigerian workers under the guise of reorganisation. PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo expressed confidence that the company would recall the workers affected by the shake-up.

The federal government’s intervention temporarily suspended strikes, but tensions remain high with fears of renewed labour unrest. Meanwhile, the refinery also faces challenges with the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) over product pricing and distribution, with accusations that the refinery’s policies could distort the downstream petroleum market.

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Dangote Refinery’s spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, has so far not responded to inquiries regarding the workforce shake-up.

As the refinery navigates this critical period, the management asserts its commitment to safeguarding the plant’s operational integrity, prioritising security, and maintaining production amid the labour disputes and sabotage challenges