The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed a number of Nigerian workers, citing sabotage within its facility, as unions accuse the company of retaliating against staff who joined organised labour.

An internal memo dated 25 September, signed by the refinery’s Human Asset Management head, directed affected employees to return company property, obtain clearance and await computation of their benefits. The memo described the decision as part of a “total reorganisation” following reported cases of sabotage in different units.

The move came a day after many Nigerian staff formally joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). The union said more than 1,000 employees had signed membership forms, which were verified by management.

PENGASSAN condemned the dismissals as an attempt to weaken labour representation. “This action is not just sabotage; it is a clear effort to undermine workers’ constitutional rights to freedom of association,” the union said. It also alleged that management had sought the arrest of its caretaker committee chairman for union involvement.

Refinery management rejected claims of mass sackings. In a statement on 26 September, it said over 3,000 Nigerians remain in active employment and that only “a very small number of staff were affected.” It added that the changes were unrelated to union activities and stressed its commitment to international labour standards, including freedom of association.

The $20 billion refinery, inaugurated in 2024 with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is regarded as central to Nigeria’s drive for energy independence. However, it has faced technical challenges, currency volatility, and now labour tensions that risk further slowing its operations.

Government authorities have not commented on the dispute. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers’ Union (NUPENG), also active in the oil sector, has stayed silent, constrained by a court order preventing it from disrupting refinery activities.