By Ezechie Awele- Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed recent claims of indiscriminate layoffs and anti-labour activities at its Lekki plant, stressing that its ongoing restructuring is motivated by safety and security needs rather than attempts to stifle workers.
The statement comes after reports of job cuts confirmed by oil sector unions, coupled with accusations of unfair labour practices.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) recently accused the
refinery of denying certain groups of employees the freedom to unionise, while also paying salaries below the industry benchmark. NUPENG further warned of possible strike action if the concerns were not resolved.
In a release issued on Friday and signed by branch chairman, Abdulfatai Muhammed, and branch secretary, Eseoghene Choice, PENGASSAN alleged that workers who had recently joined the union were harassed and abruptly dismissed.
According to the union, the incident occurred on September 25, 2025, shortly after the first batch of names of unionised staff was presented to management. “A meeting was held with members, during which they were asked to indicate their membership in PENGASSAN. Overwhelmingly, staff at the refinery affirmed YES,” the statement said.
PENGASSAN further claimed that by evening, management withdrew staff buses, forcing employees to pay out of pocket for transportation. Later that night, between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Nigerian workers were allegedly denied access to the facility, while expatriates were allowed in. “At about 9:59 p.m., workers received a mass termination email addressed to ‘all staff’ of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE,” the statement added.
The union also alleged that its caretaker committee chairman was targeted for arrest, describing the move as “an attempt to intimidate labour leaders” and a violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.
However, Dangote Petroleum Refinery emphasised that its decision was prompted by “intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns, rather than an attempt to target employees.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to clarify recent reports concerning the ongoing
reorganisation within its facility. 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 company said in a statement.
The refinery further noted that only a limited number of staff members were impacted and
affirmed that “over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our petroleum refinery, at present.” It also pointed to ongoing recruitment through graduate trainee schemes and experienced-hire opportunities as proof of its long-term commitment to job creation.
“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,” it added.
On the unionisation debate, the company maintained that it upholds global labour rights: “We recognize 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.”
Positioned as Africa’s largest single-train refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the Dangote facility is regarded as a strategic national asset expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products. The company reiterated its pledge, stating: “We will continue to work in partnership with our employees, regulators, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability.”
