LAGOS, Nigeria – A storm is brewing at the multi-billion dollar Dangote Petroleum Refinery as management has carried out a massive, sudden reorganization of its workforce, citing repeated acts of “sabotage” within the plant. In a shocking internal letter dated September 24, 2025, which was obtained by kiin360, the company informed staff that their services were “no longer required” due to safety concerns caused by the alleged sabotage.
However, a top official of the refinery has rushed to clarify the situation, telling kiin360 that this is NOT a mass sack, but a necessary “clean-up” operation to root out bad elements and plug leakages. A senior Dangote Refinery official confirmed the authenticity of the letter but insisted its interpretation has been blown out of proportion. “Yes, the letter is correct. But the interpretation is wrong,” the official stated. “It doesn’t mean they have been sacked. That is incorrect. What was done was to put a check in place.”
The official explained that the sudden move was to prevent those involved in the alleged sabotage from covering their tracks. “You cannot do things like this and give two weeks’ notice; otherwise, those in the act would cover up and complicate issues.” He assured that affected staff who are found to be clean would be reabsorbed after the investigation. “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.”
The company’s letter, signed by Chief General Manager, Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, pointed to “many recent cases of reported sabotage in different units of the Petroleum Refinery leading to major safety concerns” as the reason for the “total reorganisation.” Affected staff were directed to hand over all company property and await the computation of their entitlements.
The official stressed that refinery operations are still ongoing and that both Nigerian and expatriate staff are still at work. “The people affected know themselves, and those who did not get the letter are not affected. Anyone who didn’t have a hand in sabotage has nothing to worry about.”
This development adds to the growing list of challenges facing the refinery, which began production in 2024 with the promise of ending Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel. The plant has recently been entangled in a bitter dispute with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over labour practices and safety standards. It has also faced friction with fuel marketers over product pricing and distribution. This latest crisis raises serious questions about the internal security and operational stability of Africa’s largest refinery, a project of national importance.
