The Dangote Group has redeployed some engineers earlier dismissed from its refinery operations following a recent labour dispute with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Sources confirmed that the affected workers, many of whom were graduate trainees at the time of their dismissal, have now been offered new placements under Dangote Projects Limited. They are being reassigned to various company sites across the country, including Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Niger, and Sokoto states.
Letters issued to the re-engaged engineers described the new roles as trainee engagements, with postings tied to projects such as coal development in Benue and concrete road construction in northern states. The letters instructed the workers to resume within 14 days or risk forfeiting the offer.
While the company described the move as part of its internal reorganisation and skills development initiative, some workers have raised concerns over safety and unclear reporting structures. They alleged that the deployment locations listed in their letters lack identifiable offices, making compliance difficult.
PENGASSAN, which had earlier protested the engineers’ dismissal, reportedly advised the affected staff to delay acceptance of the new offers until discussions with the company are concluded.
An official within the Dangote Group explained that the redeployment was consistent with a broader agreement to absorb the sacked workers into other subsidiaries across Nigeria and abroad.
Last month, a standoff between the company and PENGASSAN led to temporary disruptions in oil and gas operations nationwide after reports emerged that about 800 refinery staff were dismissed for joining the union. The group, however, maintained that only a small number of workers involved in acts of sabotage were affected.
Meanwhile, Dangote Group Chairman, Aliko Dangote, announced plans to expand the company’s refinery capacity from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day. He revealed that the expansion would create 65,000 additional jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for local refining.
Dangote also voiced support for the Federal Government’s proposed amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), describing it as a necessary step to boost local refining and ensure energy security.
President Bola Tinubu, speaking through the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, pledged government backing for the refinery’s expansion, saying the project would not only meet Nigeria’s fuel needs but also serve global markets.
The refinery, which began operations in 2024, has already started supplying diesel and aviation fuel locally. With its ongoing expansion and new export strategies — including a planned tank farm in Namibia — the Dangote Refinery is positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s energy landscape.
