BREAKING: Dangote Refinery Fires All Nigerian Staff a Day After Joining PENGASSAN

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reportedly terminated the employment of all its Nigerian staff.

This development was made public on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter) by political commentator Imran Wakili. According to Wakili, the layoffs occurred less than 24 hours after approximately 90% of the workers joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

“Dangote Refinery has officially laid off all of its Nigerian workers under the guise of ‘reorganization’, less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined PENGASSAN,” Wakili wrote.

A memo dated September 25, 2025, and signed by Femi Adekunle, Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management at the refinery, confirmed the dismissals. The memo stated that the decision was part of a “total re-organisation” of the facility, citing reported incidents of sabotage across several units of the refinery.

Affected employees were instructed to return all company property to their line managers and complete exit clearance procedures. The finance department has been directed to calculate and process all outstanding entitlements in accordance with the terms of employment.

The management expressed appreciation to the departing employees for their service.

The NIGERIA NEWS 247 notes that the refinery has been involved in an ongoing dispute with PENGASSAN over the unionization of its workforce.