“Yes, the Letter Is True, but Interpretation Is Wrong” — Dangote Refinery Responds to Mass Sacking Report

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has denied claims of mass sackings of its Nigerian staff, describing recent workforce changes as part of a reorganisation aimed at addressing sabotage within the plant.

Earlier reports suggested that the refinery dismissed all Nigerian workers less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). The union’s president, Festus Osifo, initially confirmed receiving the letters, saying, “Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night (Wednesday). I can assure you that they will recall all of them.”

In response, a senior official from Dangote Refinery clarified the situation, stating, “Yes, the letter is correct. But the interpretation is wrong. It affects some people because of certain things discovered in the refinery. It has nothing to do with unionism or anything like that.”

The official emphasized that the action was not a dismissal but a preventive measure. “What was done was to put a check in place. It is more like a clean-up in the system to check where those sabotage and leakages are coming from and then address them. As soon as the issues are addressed, they will be reabsorbed. That is why it is not a sack and that word wasn’t used,” the official explained.

The company also highlighted the urgency of the reorganisation. “Some acts of sabotage have been noticed repeatedly, and the company is only trying to safeguard its assets. You cannot do things like this and give two weeks’ notice; otherwise, those involved would cover up and complicate issues,” the official added.

Operations at the refinery continue as normal, with both Nigerian and expatriate staff still at work. “As we speak, people are still working at the refinery. The people affected know themselves, and those who did not get the letter are not affected. Anyone who doesn’t have a hand in sabotage has nothing to worry about,” the official concluded.

The refinery, which commenced production in 2024, has previously faced disputes with labour unions, including PENGASSAN, over alleged high-handedness and safety concerns. It has also had disagreements with the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria regarding product pricing and distribution arrangements.