Refinery Shake-Up: Dangote Confirms Job Cuts, Explains Why Workers Were Fired

The company, in a statement posted on its official handle on Friday, explained that the dismissal of certain staff members was due to repeated acts of sabotage, which posed serious safety risks and disrupted operational efficiency.

Dangote Refinery emphasized that despite the restructuring, over 3,000 Nigerians remain actively employed within the facility.

The statement read:

“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery wishes to address recent reports regarding the ongoing reorganisation within our operations. This exercise is not arbitrary; it became necessary to safeguard the refinery from recurring acts of sabotage that threatened safety and operational stability.

“This decision was taken in the best interest of the refinery following multiple incidents of sabotage across different units, which carried grave consequences for human safety and the overall efficiency of the plant.

“We remain fully committed to strengthening our internal systems and addressing vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of this strategic national asset. Protecting the refinery is critical not only for Nigerians but also for our partners across Africa and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it.

“At present, more than 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively at the refinery, and only a very small number of staff were affected. Recruitment is ongoing through our graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire processes.

“We also reaffirm our adherence to globally accepted labour principles, including the right of employees to decide freely on union membership. Our dedication to workers’ rights remains firm.

“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery exists to serve Nigerians, strengthen Africa’s energy independence, and create sustainable, decent jobs. We will continue to engage constructively with our employees, regulators, and stakeholders while upholding the highest standards of safety, accountability, and transparency.”