Dangote Refinery Launches Reorganisation Over Alleged Staff Sabotage

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The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has begun a sweeping reorganisation of its operations and workforce, citing repeated sabotage by staff that allegedly threatened the safety of its 650,000-barrel-per-day plant.

In a letter dated September 24 and signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, the refinery said it was “constrained to carry out a total reorganisation of the plant” after “many recent cases of reported sabotage in different units of the Petroleum Refinery leading to major safety concerns.”

The directive instructed affected workers to hand over company property to their line managers and await clearance before receiving entitlements to be computed by the Finance Department.

A senior official of the refinery, however, dismissed reports that the exercise amounted to mass sackings. Speaking to The PUNCH on Friday, the official confirmed the authenticity of the letter but stressed that the move was a restructuring effort to curb sabotage, not a dismissal of staff.

“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 said.

He added that the action was designed to “plug leakages and protect company assets,” noting that those affected could be reabsorbed after investigations.

“It doesn’t mean they have been sacked. That is incorrect. 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,” he explained.

The official further clarified that refinery operations were ongoing, with both Nigerian and expatriate staff still actively 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.”

When contacted, Dangote Group spokesperson Anthony Chiejina did not respond to requests for comment.

The development comes as the $20 billion refinery, which began production in 2024 amid high expectations of ending Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products, struggles with operational challenges and industrial disputes.

Earlier this year, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) clashed with the refinery over labour practices and safety standards, accusing management of “high-handedness.” The company has also faced disagreements with petroleum marketers over pricing and distribution arrangements.