Edwin revealed the incidents of sabotage while clarifying
that the reorganisation of the company, that led to the sack of some workers,
had nothing to do with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association
of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

He spoke during a tour of the refinery by Bubaraye Dakolo,
the King of Ekpetiama Kingdom and chairman of Bayelsa Traditional Rulers
Council.

On September 26, Dangote refinery confirmed sacking only
“small number of workers,” however, PENGASSAN claimed over 800 employees were
sacked due to union dispute with the refinery.

Dangote refinery said the workers were sacked to safeguard
the refiner from repeated acts of sabotage that “have raised safety concerns
and affected operational efficiency”.

PENGASSAN instructed its members to embark on a nationwide
strike on September 28, over the dismissal of the workers, however, the
industrial action was suspended on October 1 after the intervention of the
federal government.

Dangote Group agreed to redeploy the sacked workers to its
other subsidiaries.

Addressing PENGASSAN’s claim, Edwin said the reorganisation
was because Dangote refinery has faced multiple sabotage attempts.

“We have been under repeated attacks like some people have
pointed out earlier. Originally, the refinery, they said it will not even come
up. Then they said it will not be commissioned and start production,” he said.

“We went through all those phases. Then they said, okay, we
have an issue with PENGASSAN, which is totally false news. Because when we went
and had a meeting in Abuja with the ministers and the security agencies, I
repeatedly emphasised that we have no issue with PENGASSAN.

“The reorganisation we did, had nothing to do with
PENGASSAN. We started facing incidences of sabotage. We have 22 incidences of
sabotage.

“You are all aware. You have seen fires in the past, even in
Kaduna refinery and some of the other refineries. There were attempted fire
incidences.

“I have the dates, the unit where it was done, and when it
was done. All are documented data. Because you went to the master control room,
you know that all the data are completely captured.”

‘ULTRA-MODERN SYSTEM PREVENTED SABOTAGE FROM HAVING
IMPACT’

Edwin said the ultra-modern system of Dangote refinery
prevented the sabotage from impacting its equipment.

“And same way, equipment trying to be brought down. Somebody
will open a valve to try to see if it will break down. Fortunately for us, by
the grace of God, it’s a very ultra-modern refinery.

“So when somebody starts a fire somewhere, the fire
protection system is so well, it is immediately controlled. Same way, when they
try to break down an instrument by opening a valve or adjusting some
instruments, some other instrument overrules it and stops. But it is
documented.

“So we started looking at it, and then we were a bit
concerned. Somebody can just bring a major shit down. And a lot of the
investment has gone inside.

“That is why we did this massive reorganisation. It has
nothing to do with PENGASSAN and I repeatedly emphasise, even the dates or
planning, everything is different.”

Edwin added that the sabotage at the refinery’s investment
was a major concern, noting that someone could potentially cause significant
damage, which was what prompted a “massive reorganisation”.