By Obinna Uballa
The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, has reportedly sacked more than 200 workers in what it described as a sweeping reorganisation to address “many recent cases of reported sabotage” across its units.
According to a leaked internal memo signed by the refinery’s Chief General Manager, Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, seen by The New Diplomat on Friday, the reported sabotage had raised “major safety concerns,” leaving management with no option but to disengage the affected staff with effect from Thursday, September 25, 2025.
“In view of the many recent cases of reported sabotage in different units of the Petroleum Refinery leading to major safety concerns, the Management is constrained to carry out a total re-organisation of the plant,” the letter dated September 25 and addressed to staff read.
“As a consequence of this development, we wish to inform you that your services are no longer required, with effect from the eve of Thursday, the 25th September, 2025.”
The letter directed the affected workers to surrender all company property in their possession to their line managers and obtain exit clearance certificates. It further noted that the Finance Department had been instructed to compute all outstanding benefits and entitlements due to them, subject to the completion of the clearance process.
While the exact number of workers dismissed has not been officially confirmed, industry sources told our correspondent that more than 200 staff, described by insiders as “troublesome workers”, were affected in the purge. The remaining staff considered “pliable” are expected to be reabsorbed into the refinery’s operations.
The mass sack comes against the backdrop of lingering tensions between the refinery’s management and labour unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The refinery has been accused of resisting efforts by its workers, particularly tanker drivers, to unionise, a dispute that culminated in a nationwide strike two weeks ago, during which tanker drivers blocked entrances to the refinery.
PENGASSAN had also warned that it could shut down refinery operations in solidarity with NUPENG before the intervention of the Federal Government and a restraining court order restored operations.
As at press time, the Dangote Group has yet to issue an official statement on the mass layoff. Calls and text messages sent to the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, were not responded to.
