The Vice President of Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, has disclosed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has suffered no fewer than 22 incidents of sabotage since it began operations.
Edwin made the revelation during a facility tour by Bubaraye Dakolo, the King of Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, while addressing recent controversies surrounding staff dismissals at the refinery.
He clarified that the refinery’s recent internal restructuring, which led to the dismissal of some employees, was purely a security and operational measure and had nothing to do with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
“We have been under repeated attacks, and it’s all documented. We have had 22 incidents of sabotage with dates, units, and times recorded,” Edwin stated.
“Fortunately, our ultra-modern systems prevented any serious damage, but it became a major concern that someone could bring the facility down.”
Sabotage and Safety Concerns
According to Edwin, some of the sabotage attempts included deliberate actions by individuals trying to cause fires or disrupt refinery operations by tampering with control valves and critical instruments.
“Someone could open a valve to trigger a breakdown or start a fire. Thankfully, our fire protection and automated safety systems detect and neutralize such actions immediately,” he explained.
“That’s why we had to reorganize. It had nothing to do with PENGASSAN. The timeline and reasons are completely different.”
Background: Staff Dismissals and Union Reaction
On September 26, Dangote Refinery confirmed that only a small number of workers had been dismissed following the internal restructuring. However, PENGASSAN claimed that over 800 employees were sacked over a labour dispute with the refinery.
The refinery, in its response, explained that the dismissals were carried out to protect the facility from repeated acts of sabotage that had raised safety concerns and affected operational efficiency.
In reaction, PENGASSAN had directed its members nationwide to embark on an industrial strike beginning September 28, which was later suspended on October 1 after the federal government’s intervention.
Following negotiations, Dangote Group agreed to redeploy affected workers to other subsidiaries within the conglomerate.
Refinery Defends Its Reorganisation
Edwin reiterated that the decision to reorganize the workforce was purely preventive, ensuring that the refinery’s multibillion-dollar investment was safeguarded.
“There were people who said this refinery would never take off or be commissioned. We overcame that. Then came rumours about disputes with PENGASSAN which are false. Our concern was security and the protection of our operations,” he said.
He emphasized that all the sabotage incidents were logged and reviewed using data from the refinery’s master control room, which monitors activities across the entire facility.
“Every attempt was captured in our system. It is clear and traceable. We cannot risk our national investment,” Edwin added.
Union Dispute Resolved
The refinery’s clarification comes amid efforts to maintain industrial harmony following weeks of tension with the oil and gas workers’ union.
PENGASSAN had earlier accused the company of targeting union members, but the matter was resolved after high-level talks with the Ministry of Labour and security agencies in Abuja.
Edwin reaffirmed that the refinery remains focused on its core mission, ensuring energy security for Nigeria and driving industrial transformation through domestic refining.
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