Dangote Refinery Clarifies Reorganisation: Cites Sabotage, Dismisses Mass Layoffs
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a strategic national asset in Nigeria, has publicly addressed reports of mass staff layoffs, clarifying that the ongoing action is a reorganisation of operations affecting only a “very small number” of employees.
The company asserts the measure is necessary to safeguard the facility from repeated acts of sabotage that threaten operational efficiency and human life.
In an official statement released on Friday via the Dangote Group’s X account, management refuted the “mass layoff” claims, emphasizing that the exercise is “not arbitrary.”
The Rationale: Combating Sabotage and Ensuring Safety
According to the refinery’s management, the reorganisation was a critical response to “intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units” of the facility. These repeated acts, the statement detailed, have raised significant safety concerns and negatively impacted operational efficiency, posing “dire consequences on human life.”
The company stressed its commitment to maintaining the long-term stability of the refinery and remains “vigilant to [its] internal systems and vulnerabilities” to protect the national asset for the benefit of Nigerians and Africa’s energy independence.
Jobs and Workers’ Rights
The Dangote Group affirmed that its workforce remains largely intact, with over 3,000 Nigerians actively working at the refinery. It noted that only a minor fraction of staff were affected by the shake-up. Furthermore, the company highlighted its commitment to job creation by continuing to recruit Nigerian talent through graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire processes.
Addressing the broader context of labour relations, the refinery reaffirmed its adherence to internationally accepted labour principles, including “the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union.”
Lingering Union Tensions
The reorganisation comes amid a protracted industrial dispute with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The union has previously raised serious concerns over the refinery’s alleged refusal to recognise the right of tanker drivers and other employees to join a union.
Although a resolution on workers’ rights was reportedly signed in the presence of federal ministers and a Deputy Director General of the DSS, NUPENG later claimed the agreement was violated. Allegations included instructions for refinery drivers to remove union stickers and attempts to intimidate union officials, including an incident involving a Dangote Group official flying over the site and summoning the Navy.
The company’s latest statement serves as a firm clarification on the workforce changes, attributing the action to security and operational imperatives while re-stating its commitment to both creating sustainable jobs and upholding labour rights.
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