Dangote Group to Redeploy Sacked Refinery Engineers to Sugar, Cement Divisions
The Dangote Group has concluded plans to redeploy refinery engineers recently disengaged for alleged acts of sabotage to its sugar and cement operations, with additional placements expected in the company’s overseas subsidiaries.
Multiple sources within the refinery confirmed on Sunday that the redeployment follows the intervention of the Federal Government, which brokered peace between the company and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) after a nationwide strike earlier in the week.
PENGASSAN had shut down oil and gas facilities between Sunday and Tuesday, alleging that about 800 workers at the Dangote Refinery were sacked for joining the union.
The industrial action disrupted petroleum production and caused a temporary dip in power generation.
Following government mediation, the Dangote Group agreed to recall the affected workers, though several will now be reassigned to other divisions within the conglomerate.
A company official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said Dangote had no objection to union membership but insisted that cases of sabotage could not be ignored.
“The company respects workers’ rights to unionise, but leaking sensitive operational information amounts to sabotage. That was the issue,” the official said.
Sources disclosed that many of the affected employees were among the Nigerian engineers trained abroad for the refinery project and played key roles in its commissioning.
“The workers will be redeployed to sugar, cement, and other subsidiaries. Some may be posted to our foreign operations,” one source said.
“It’s a huge loss to the refinery because these engineers were among the first generation of Nigerians to take part in the commissioning of such a large facility. You can’t replace that experience easily.”
Industry experts also confirmed that some of the engineers had previously been targeted by international firms because of their technical competence.
Responding to concerns over alleged wage disparity between expatriates and Nigerian engineers, a consultant explained that pay differences were standard in the sector and reflected experience and global mobility rather than discrimination.
“In the early stages of any large industrial project, expatriates are often hired for technical guidance while local staff are trained to take over. As capacity grows, Nigerians will lead operations,” the consultant said.
Another source revealed that redeployment would be handled on a case-by-case basis and that some of the affected engineers could be transferred to Dangote’s international sites.
“The process has started and should be concluded soon,” the source added.
The 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, is Africa’s largest integrated refining complex.
The plant is projected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products and generate thousands of jobs across the energy value chain.
Company officials reaffirmed the refinery’s commitment to honouring all resolutions reached with labour unions and the Federal Government.
The Dangote Refinery has recently faced criticism from industry groups, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), which accused the facility of monopolistic practices and restrictive supply conditions.
The refinery has denied the allegations, insisting that its operations comply with regulatory and market standards.
