Some engineers recently dismissed by the Dangote Refinery have denied claims that there were 22 incidents of sabotage at the multibillion-dollar facility, including attempts to set it on fire.

The sacked workers, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue, insisted that the allegations were false and accused the refinery of punishing them for joining the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

According to them, if the refinery truly recorded several sabotage attempts, “someone would have been arrested or prosecuted by now.”

“From media reports, they said they have evidence. How can there be evidence without suspects?” one of the engineers asked.

The group said no member of the refinery’s technical team ever attempted to destroy or damage the facility, adding that many of them were part of the core professionals who built the plant.

“Some of us helped build this refinery. How could we turn around to destroy it? We love the project and want it to succeed,” a dismissed worker said.

During a media tour of the refinery last Friday, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of the Dangote Group, had said the sacked engineers were dismissed for acts of sabotage, not union activities.

Edwin maintained that the company had documented “22 cases of sabotage,” including incidents where some workers allegedly attempted to set fire to certain sections of the refinery or tamper with key equipment.

“We have been under repeated attacks. Fortunately, it’s an ultramodern refinery. Whenever someone tries to start a fire or tamper with a system, our safety mechanisms respond automatically,” he stated.

He added that the company embarked on a massive reorganisation to protect its operations and dismissed suggestions that the exercise was linked to pressure from PENGASSAN.

However, the sacked engineers insist their dismissal was a direct response to unionisation efforts, noting that they had merely volunteered to join PENGASSAN before their contracts were abruptly terminated.

The dispute had led to a strike by oil and gas workers three weeks ago, which disrupted operations and affected national oil output and power generation.

The Federal Government later intervened, directing the Dangote Group to recall or redeploy the affected staff.

Although sources within the company hinted at plans to redeploy the engineers to other business units such as the Dangote Sugar and Dangote Cement plants, the workers told reporters they had not been contacted since their September salary was paid on October 6.

“We are still at home; no communication so far. We’re waiting for the next decision of the company,” one of them confirmed.

The Dangote Refinery, commissioned in 2023, remains one of Africa’s largest industrial projects, but recent labour tensions have renewed debates over workers’ rights and corporate accountability within the private sector.

The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, will formally assume office today, Wednesday, October 23, 2025, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

An internal memo signed by Wilfred Ifogah, Deputy Director of Publicity, for the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, announced that Amupitan will hold his first official meeting with INEC directors at 1:30 p.m. in the Commission’s conference hall.

Amupitan’s resumption follows his swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu, coming after the completion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s two-term tenure (2015–2025). Yakubu oversaw two general elections and several off-cycle polls that shaped Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

Ahead of his assumption, key members of civil society have urged the new INEC boss to build on the reforms and gains achieved under his predecessor.

At a colloquium organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in Abuja, stakeholders described sustaining the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system as a shared responsibility among political parties, the judiciary, security agencies, and citizens.

The event, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Reflections on a Decade of INEC Leadership,” brought together political actors, academics, and civil society leaders who lauded Yakubu’s legacy of institutional and technological reform.

Deputy National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Hon. Dipo Olayoku, commended Yakubu’s introduction of technology-driven innovations, which he said enhanced transparency and credibility in election management.

“Conducting elections in Nigeria remains one of the most complex national tasks,” Olayoku noted. “Through the use of technology, Professor Yakubu made our elections more credible and acceptable. His innovations have brought a new level of transparency to the process.”

He, however, lamented that the lack of accountability for electoral offences continues to undermine progress, stressing that unpunished wrongdoing limits reform impact.

Similarly, the Executive Director of the Pioneering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Nigeria (PAACA), Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, hailed Yakubu’s tenure as a period of “remarkable innovation,” citing the electronic transmission of results via the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as a milestone in electoral transparency.

As Amupitan takes over the reins, expectations remain high for him to consolidate these reforms, deepen transparency, and steer the Commission toward a more credible and resilient electoral system ahead of future polls.

The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has appointed Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as the Chairman of the Osun State Sports Trust Fund.

The initiative, according to the state government, is designed to raise sustainable funding for the development and transformation of sports in the state.

Announcing the appointment in Osogbo, the state’s Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Sports, Kola Adewusi, said the move aligns with Governor Adeleke’s commitment to reposition the sports sector and complete the ongoing renovation of the Osogbo Township Stadium to meet Olympic standards.

“Ongoing renovation and rehabilitation of the Osogbo Township Stadium will be completed in the shortest possible time,” Adewusi said.
“Plans are also in advanced stages for the establishment of the Osun State Sports Commission, which will serve as the central body for sports administration, development, and policy implementation.”

He explained that the new Sports Trust Fund, to be chaired by Davido, would attract support from philanthropists and private investors both within and outside the state.

“Davido has been appointed to chair the Sports Trust Fund, and he did not hesitate to accept. His intervention will attract funds that will impact Osun sports positively,” Adewusi added.

The Osun State Government assured that the revamped stadium would not only host national events but also attract international tournaments, boosting sports tourism and youth engagement across the state.