Photo caption: Dangote Refinery
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
Despite workforce reduction at Africa’s largest refinery, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery stated that over 3,000 Nigerians still work at the refinery.
In a statement on Friday, management explained that more than 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery despite an ongoing reorganisation process aimed at strengthening operations and addressing repeated acts of sabotage.
The management further noted that only a very small number of staff were affected by the workforce downsizing exercise, stressing that the refinery remains committed to expanding opportunities for talent through graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment.
“Over 3,000 Nigerians continue to work actively in our Petroleum Refinery, at present. Only a very small number of staff were affected, as we continue to recruit Nigerian talent through our various graduate trainee programmes and experienced hire recruitment process,” it said.
The company said the reorganisation had become necessary following intermittent cases of sabotage within the facility, which created safety risks and disrupted operations.
“The foregoing decision was taken in the best interest of the Refinery as result of intermittent cases of sabotage in the various units of the Refinery with dire consequences on human life and related safety concerns. We remain vigilant to our internal systems and vulnerabilities to ensure the long-term stability of this strategic national asset. It is imperative to protect the refinery for the benefit of Nigerians, our partners across Africa, and the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on it,” the statement noted.
Reassuring employees and stakeholders, the refinery reaffirmed its commitment to internationally accepted labour principles, including workers’ freedom to decide on union membership without interference.
It emphasised that the exercise is an audit process to safeguard the long-term stability of what it described as a strategic national asset.
The refinery added that it would continue working in partnership with regulators, employees, and stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of safety, transparency, and accountability.
