The Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Friday addressed reports of the dismissal of some Nigerian employees, providing clarification as tensions rose between the refinery’s management and oil workers’ unions.
A leaked internal memo earlier in the week indicated that several Nigerian workers had been dismissed for allegedly joining labour unions. The development drew sharp reactions from the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which accused the refinery’s management of pursuing anti-labour policies and threatened to shut down operations.
In response, the refinery’s Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, described the move as part of a total re-organisation of the facility following reported cases of sabotage that posed serious safety risks.
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Adekunle, in the leaked memo, explained, “As a consequence of this development, we wish to inform you that your services are no longer required, with effect from the eve of Thursday, the 25th September, 2025.
Please surrender all the company’s properties in your possession to your line manager and obtain an exit clearance accordingly. The date for doing so will be communicated to you later.
The Finance Department, by a copy of this letter, is advised to compute all your benefits and entitlements in line with your terms of employment and conditions of service and pay the amount due to you (less all indebtedness), subject to the condition that you have obtained the exit clearance certificate as mentioned above.”
However, in a statement issued on Friday, the refinery’s management clarified that the reorganisation was not a mass dismissal exercise but a targeted measure to protect the refinery from internal threats.
The statement read: “This exercise is not arbitrary. It has become necessary to safeguard the refinery from repeated acts of sabotage that have raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.
The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the refinery as a result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the refinery, with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns.
We remain vigilant to our internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of this strategic national asset. It is imperative to protect the refinery for the benefit of Nigerians, our partners across Africa, and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it.
Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our petroleum refinery at present. Only a very small number of staff were affected, as we continue to recruit Nigerian talent through our various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process.
We recognise and uphold internationally accepted labour principles, including the right of every worker to freely decide whether or not to join a union. Our commitment to workers’ rights is unwavering.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, to strengthen Africa’s energy independence, and to create decent, sustainable jobs. We will continue to work in partnership with our employees, regulators, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability.”
The clarification aims to quell rising tensions as the refinery continues its operations with over 3,000 Nigerians on its workforce, while reiterating its commitment to workers’ rights and the safety of its facility.
