A fresh wave of labour unrest is emerging at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, after the controversial arrival of 89 unskilled labourers allegedly recruited from Katsina State. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State chapter, has condemned the move, labeling it not only unlawful but also a provocative affront to both local labour laws and the host community.
The controversy erupted after a video surfaced online over the weekend, showing a truck unloading dozens of young men at the refinery site—an event that immediately raised alarm among local residents. Fearing for their community’s safety and concerned about potential displacement of local job seekers, residents swiftly alerted law enforcement authorities.
In a swift response, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident via its official X (formerly Twitter) account. Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin stated that officers were dispatched on May 14, 2025, and verified that the group had indeed been brought in from Katsina to serve as labourers on the refinery site.
NLC Condemns Employment Disparity
Comrade Funmi Sessi, Chairperson of the Lagos State NLC, denounced the development in strong terms, stating that it violated not only labour fairness but also employment protocols designed to protect host communities.
“This act by the Dangote Refinery is both unacceptable and illegal. Labour regulations clearly stipulate that at least 70% of job slots, especially for unskilled labour, must be allocated to residents of the host community, while the remaining 30% can be assigned to skilled external workers,” Sessi declared in an interview with Weekend Trust.
Sessi questioned the rationale behind importing unskilled labourers when high youth unemployment persists in Ibeju-Lekki and other parts of Lagos. “What specialized knowledge do these men from Katsina possess that unemployed youths in Ibeju-Lekki do not?” she asked pointedly.
She further criticized what she described as a pattern of neglect by Dangote industries, alleging the company frequently hires foreign nationals for roles Nigerians are qualified to handle. “It has become a recurring trend for the Dangote Group to ignore local talent. Instead, we see Indians and other foreigners doing jobs that Nigerians are more than capable of doing. This must stop,” she asserted.
Call for Government Action
In her strongest statement yet, Sessi demanded urgent intervention from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Federal Ministry of Labour. She called for the immediate repatriation of the 89 workers and warned of escalating protests if the issue is not resolved promptly.
“If nothing is done, we will not hesitate to involve the national leadership of the NLC. What you’re seeing now is just the beginning,” she cautioned.
Dangote Refinery Denies Direct Involvement
Responding to the uproar, the Dangote Refinery issued a statement disowning the recruitment of the 89 workers. The company attributed the development to a third-party contractor operating within the vast refinery complex.
“We were not aware of the recruitment. These workers were brought in by a vendor contracted to operate at the site. Multiple contractors are involved in this large-scale project. We are conducting an internal investigation to determine how this happened,” the company stated in a text response to Weekend Trust.
Mounting Tensions in the Host Community
The incident has exacerbated tensions in the Ibeju-Lekki area, where community members and labour leaders are increasingly wary of being sidelined in employment matters related to the refinery. With the NLC closely watching the company’s next moves and local sentiment growing more agitated, observers warn that the situation could deteriorate further unless swiftly addressed.
As Nigeria continues its push toward industrialization, the clash underscores a growing friction between corporate expansion and community expectations—particularly in regions where job scarcity fuels resentment and demands for inclusion.
