Lagos, Nigeria – The management of Africa’s largest oil refinery, the Dangote Refinery, has announced a wave of layoffs, citing acts of sabotage that have disrupted operations and caused heavy financial losses.
In a statement released on Saturday, the refinery’s management said the decision was “painful but necessary” to stabilize operations and restore security at the multi-billion-dollar facility, which only began production in early 2024.
“We have faced repeated attempts to undermine our operations, including tampering with equipment and deliberate damage to key infrastructure,” said a spokesperson for the refinery. “These acts have affected production targets, increased costs, and put the safety of our staff at risk.”
The refinery, owned by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s strategy to end dependence on imported fuel and become a major exporter of refined petroleum products.
However, the announcement of job cuts has raised concerns among employees and industry analysts. The company did not disclose the exact number of workers affected but confirmed that the layoffs would primarily impact non-essential and contract staff while technical and security teams would be strengthened.
Security agencies have been called in to investigate the reported sabotage, which is suspected to involve oil theft syndicates and disgruntled contractors.
Energy analysts say this development could slow Nigeria’s push toward self-sufficiency in fuel production and affect domestic fuel prices if disruptions continue.
“This is a worrying setback. If production is not stabilized quickly, Nigeria could remain dependent on costly imports, which would affect fuel availability and prices,” said energy consultant Ayo Fadeyi.
The refinery has urged the government to support tighter security measures around critical national infrastructure to prevent further sabotage.
