Dangote Refinery Denies Mass Sack, Cites Safety Reorganisation

By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE

DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery has dismissed claims by PENGASSAN that it sacked workers for joining the union, describing the allegation as “unfounded and misleading.”

In a statement, management said the ongoing reorganisation was to strengthen operations and address sabotage risks, not union activity.

The refinery noted that over 3,000 Nigerians remain employed, with only a few affected by the exercise, while recruitment through graduate trainee and experienced hire programmes continues.

It added that restructuring became necessary after repeated sabotage incidents created safety hazards and disrupted operations, stressing the need to safeguard the refinery as a “strategic national asset.”