By Ademola Adekusibe
September 26, 2025
The management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has announced a reorganisation of its workforce following what it described as “reported cases of sabotage in different units” of the facility.
In an internal memo dated September 24, 2025, and signed by Femi Adekunle, Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, the company said the exercise was necessary to protect operations and address safety concerns. Affected employees were directed to hand over company property and await clearance, after which their benefits would be computed according to contract terms.
However, a senior official of the refinery clarified that the move does not amount to a mass sack. “It doesn’t mean they have been sacked. That is incorrect. The idea is to plug leakages and protect the company’s assets. Once the issues are resolved, they will be reabsorbed,” the official told the media.
The development has sparked reactions from labour unions. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) alleged that the shake-up was connected to recent unionisation at the refinery, claiming that over 90 percent of Nigerian staff had just joined the union. The union president, Festus Osifo, confirmed the circulation of a letter asking some staff to leave but insisted that they would be recalled.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) also condemned the action, warning that it raises serious concerns about labour rights at the refinery.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has cautioned against destabilising the operations of the refinery, describing it as a symbol of Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.
The Dangote Refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos, is one of the world’s largest single-train refineries with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It has been positioned as a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy sector but has faced controversies over crude supply, distribution strategies, and now, labour disputes.
