Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has terminated all its Nigerian workers, effective September 25, 2025, citing a “total reorganisation” due to repeated sabotage incidents threatening the safety of its 650,000 barrels-per-day facility.
The decision, outlined in a letter dated September 24, 2025, and signed by Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, came less than 24 hours after 90 percent of workers joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), sparking accusations of anti-union retaliation.
The letter instructed workers to surrender company property to line managers and await exit clearance, with the Finance Department tasked to compute their benefits and entitlements.
It cited “many recent cases of reported sabotage in different units of the Petroleum Refinery leading to major safety concerns” as the reason for the reorganisation.
A senior refinery official, however, denied mass sackings, framing the move as a “clean-up” to address sabotage and protect assets. The official clarified that unaffected Nigerian and expatriate workers continue operations, and affected staff could be reabsorbed after the issues are resolved, emphasizing that the sudden action prevented culprits from concealing their actions.
PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo condemned the terminations, linking them to the workers’ unionization.
“Yes, it is true. We saw the letter late last night. I can assure you that they will recall all of them,” Osifo stated, hinting at legal and industrial action.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which recently suspended a solidarity strike after federal intervention, also criticized the refinery for undermining labor rights. An expired injunction against strikes raises fears of renewed unrest in the oil sector.
Affected workers expressed shock, with one anonymously stating, “We joined PENGASSAN for better conditions, not to lose our jobs.”
The refinery, operational since 2024 to curb Nigeria’s fuel import reliance, has faced prior disputes with NUPENG over labor practices and with petroleum marketers over pricing and distribution.
The mass termination has fueled public outrage, with social media campaigns demanding worker reinstatement and government mediation.
As tensions mount, the labor crisis threatens to disrupt the refinery’s operations and Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
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