The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has confirmed a sweeping reorganisation of its operations and workforce, but denied reports of a mass sack of workers.
In a letter dated September 24, 2025, signed by Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management Femi Adekunle, the refinery said the move was triggered by “many recent cases of reported sabotage in different units of the Petroleum Refinery leading to major safety concerns.”
The 650,000 barrels per day facility, which began production in 2024, directed affected staff to hand over company property to their line managers and await clearance for entitlements to be computed by the Finance Department.
A senior official of the refinery, however, dismissed media reports of an en masse dismissal, insisting the exercise was a reorganisation to curb sabotage and plug leakages within the plant.
“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 told The PUNCH.
He clarified that those found innocent of sabotage would be reabsorbed:
“It doesn’t mean they have been sacked. What was done was more like a clean-up in the system. As soon as the issues are addressed, they will be reabsorbed. That is why it is not a sack and that word wasn’t used.”
According to the source, the action was carried out without prior notice to prevent those allegedly involved from covering their tracks.
Despite the shake-up, refinery operations are said to be ongoing with both Nigerians and expatriates still active at the facility.
The disengagement letter, addressed to staff of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE and Dangote Industries Free Zone Development Company, read in part:
“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 refinery — touted as Africa’s largest and Nigeria’s hope for ending decades of reliance on imported petroleum products — has recently battled operational turbulence and labour disputes.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) earlier accused the company of “high-handedness” and warned against unfair labour practices, while marketers under the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) also raised concerns over pricing and distribution policies.
Dangote spokesperson Anthony Chiejina did not respond to requests for comment at press time.
About the author
How family support helped me through scandals, grief – Davido
In an interview with Vibe Q, David Adeleke said his father, brothers and sisters have always been the first to reach out whenever something bad happens, staying by his side until he was okay. Davido recalled how his family rallied around him after the death of his son, saying they “stayed with me till I was fine” and that they understand the depth of the pain he went through. He added that even when he is too busy to call them, they always check in on him, stressing that “family should not be played with The singer noted that seeing his family happy when he performs reminds him of how far he has come from the period when he was “broken” after his child’s death. He credited this strong family support system with helping him stay strong throughout his career […]
Hamas agrees to disarm under Trump plan, but no word from Israel
The Palestinian Islamist movement says it accepts a ceasefire roadmap that includes handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee and a staged Israeli pullout from Gaza, while Israel remains unconvinced the proposal meets its security demands. Hamas announced on Friday that it had agreed to a deal unveiled by President Trump, under which its weapons would be placed under the control of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a Palestinian body backed by Trump’s Board of Peace. The agreement is tied to a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force alongside a new Palestinian police force to secure the territory. A senior Israeli political source told AFP that the draft did not “satisfactorily” address Israel’s demand for full demilitarisation of Gaza, insisting on the “complete disarmament of Hamas, including […]
Ban on sale of sachet alcoholic drinks remains – NAFDAC
NAFDAC says the crackdown on manufacturers and distributors of sachet alcohol has already begun, with arrests and seizures recorded across the South East zone. The NAFDAC Zonal Director, South East, Dr Festus Ukadike, disclosed this in an interview in Enugu, adding that the next phase is to mop up remaining sachet alcoholic products still in the market. He stressed that businesses would not be adversely affected because companies can still produce alcohol in bottles of 200ml and above. According to Ukadike, the health of children was a major factor behind the ban, as sachet alcohol has fueled unhealthy drinking habits among young children and contributed to antisocial behaviour and disease risks. He urged consumers to control their alcohol intake, saying public health considerations outweigh commercial interests and affordability concerns. NAFDAC expects that within 12 months, Nigeria will have a standard […]
World Cup must be kept out of private hands – Chelsea manager Alonso
Alonso backs UEFA’s opposition to FIFA’s plan to create a commercial subsidiary for the World Cup and allow private investors to acquire stakes, warning it could undermine the sport’s authenticity. Speaking in Sydney, where Chelsea are on a pre-season tour, the Spanish World Cup winner said: “I think that football has to be for the people, not in private hands.” He added that fans love the game because it is for everyone, and that some things about the World Cup should stay the same to preserve its emotions and passion. European football’s governing body UEFA has said it is ready to boycott the World Cup over the proposal, arguing the sport “cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return.” FIFA, however, has vowed to press ahead with an “open and democratic” consultation, […]
Resident doctors issue final deadline, threaten nationwide strike from Aug 10
NARD says it will commence a total and comprehensive industrial strike at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, if outstanding demands on salaries, allowances and working conditions are not met. The decision was contained in a communique issued at the end of the association’s July National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Gombe, signed by the NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim and Publicity Secretary Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim. While commending the government for disbursing the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), NARD expressed deep dissatisfaction with the slow pace of compliance on several other critical issues. Key demands include immediate payment of outstanding 25/35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears, 19 months’ professional allowance arrears and promotion arrears owed to doctors in federal health institutions. The association also called for urgent resolution of house officers’ welfare challenges, including […]
NAHCON seeks phased implementation of Saudi Hajj reform
NAHCON says Saudi plans to move about 98 per cent of Nigeria’s Hajj quota to private operators cannot be implemented overnight without risking chaos in Nigeria’s pilgrimage administration. Chairman Ambassador Ismail Abba Yussuf disclosed the position after briefing government officials at the State House, Abuja, on reforms proposed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. He explained that Nigeria’s Hajj has for decades been coordinated through NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, making a sudden switch to a predominantly private model both operationally and economically challenging. According to a statement by the Office of the Vice President, Yussuf said an immediate adoption could undermine existing government‑to‑government agreements with Saudi Arabia, disrupt established processes, weaken the statutory roles of state boards and hurt the affordability and accessibility of Hajj for ordinary Nigerians. He stressed that the commission is not […]
Related
Ban on sale of sachet alcoholic drinks remains – NAFDAC
NAFDAC says the crackdown on manufacturers and distributors of sachet alcohol has already begun, with arrests and seizures recorded across the South East zone. The NAFDAC Zonal Director, South East, Dr Festus Ukadike, disclosed this in an interview in Enugu, adding that the next phase is to mop up remaining sachet alcoholic products still in the market. He stressed that businesses would not be adversely affected because companies can still produce alcohol in bottles of 200ml and above. According to Ukadike, the health of children was a major factor behind the ban, as sachet alcohol has fueled unhealthy drinking habits among young children and contributed to antisocial behaviour and disease risks. He urged consumers to control their alcohol intake, saying public health considerations outweigh commercial interests and affordability concerns. NAFDAC expects that within 12 months, Nigeria will have a standard […]
Resident doctors issue final deadline, threaten nationwide strike from Aug 10
NARD says it will commence a total and comprehensive industrial strike at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, if outstanding demands on salaries, allowances and working conditions are not met. The decision was contained in a communique issued at the end of the association’s July National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Gombe, signed by the NARD President, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim and Publicity Secretary Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim. While commending the government for disbursing the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), NARD expressed deep dissatisfaction with the slow pace of compliance on several other critical issues. Key demands include immediate payment of outstanding 25/35 per cent CONMESS upward review arrears, 19 months’ professional allowance arrears and promotion arrears owed to doctors in federal health institutions. The association also called for urgent resolution of house officers’ welfare challenges, including […]
NAHCON seeks phased implementation of Saudi Hajj reform
NAHCON says Saudi plans to move about 98 per cent of Nigeria’s Hajj quota to private operators cannot be implemented overnight without risking chaos in Nigeria’s pilgrimage administration. Chairman Ambassador Ismail Abba Yussuf disclosed the position after briefing government officials at the State House, Abuja, on reforms proposed by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. He explained that Nigeria’s Hajj has for decades been coordinated through NAHCON and State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, making a sudden switch to a predominantly private model both operationally and economically challenging. According to a statement by the Office of the Vice President, Yussuf said an immediate adoption could undermine existing government‑to‑government agreements with Saudi Arabia, disrupt established processes, weaken the statutory roles of state boards and hurt the affordability and accessibility of Hajj for ordinary Nigerians. He stressed that the commission is not […]
DSS, forest guards kill bandits in gun battle, rescue nine abducted victims
Operatives of the Department of State Services and Kwara State Forest Guards have killed three suspected bandits and rescued nine abducted victims during a fierce gun battle in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The intelligence-led operation was carried out on Wednesday in the Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ejiu-Ora and Osi axis of Ekiti LGA, a corridor that borders Ekiti, Kogi and Niger states. The team also included local hunters and vigilantes who joined the DSS and forest guards in combing the forests for the kidnappers. According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti Local Government Council Chairman, Prince Dada Sunday, the victims were abducted from Eju community after the local market and were being moved through a forest route towards Niger State when the security team intercepted the gang. A member of the Kwara Forest Guards, Owolabi Adebayo, said the […]
INEC dismisses reports of revised 2027 campaign timetable
The Independent National Electoral Commission has dismissed reports circulating online that it has revised the campaign timetable for the 2027 general elections, describing the viral graphic as fake. INEC said the document making the rounds on social media did not originate from the commission and should be disregarded by the public. The commission explained that it does not issue campaign timetables separately, as all official campaign dates are already included in the revised timetable and schedule of activities released on February 26, 2026. According to the existing schedule, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are due to begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will start on September 9, 2026. The timetable also sets January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and state assembly polls. […]
2027: I won’t let you tie me down, we’ll wrestle to finish — Tinubu warns opposition
President Bola Tinubu has warned opposition figures that he will not allow them to “tie” him down politically ahead of the 2027 general election, saying the contest will be fought to the finish. Tinubu made the statement on Tuesday during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the State House in Abuja. He said he had asked for the job and was prepared for the political battle, but would not offer opponents “a red carpet.” “I’m ready, but I won’t give them a red carpet. I won’t offer them the leash to tie me and rope me. No, we wrestle each other to the finishing point,” the President said. He also described the Independent National Electoral Commission as neutral and said political opponents should not fear the system if they are confident in their own strength. The […]