..Denies NUPENG Allegation
–Says Nigerian Engineers now recognized as Expatriates in Qatar
By Olawale Lamina
The President of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote has revealed that Nigerian engineers hired to build his 650,000-barrel-per-day plant performed better than their Indian counterparts.
Aliko Dangote made the disclosure at a recent media briefing following his disagreement with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and other unions. He restated his commitment to job creation in the country.
He argued that, based on the exceptional performance of the Nigerian engineers he hired to build his $20 billion refinery, they have been poached as expatriates in Qatar.
“The biggest challenge for us is how do we create jobs?
“I can tell you today when we built this refinery, the Nigerian engineers we hired performed better than the Indians. Eighteen of them are now expatriates in Qatar,” he said.
He added that his new fertiliser plant will be built by a majority of Nigerians.
He said: “For this new fertiliser plant we are building, the majority of the engineers will be Nigerians.”
The disagreement between Dangote Refinery and unions in the oil and gas sector,arose especially from the accusation by NUPENG that the Dangote Refinery is involved in anti-labour activities over the company’s engagement of drivers for its Compressed Natural Gas trucks for petroleum products distribution nationwide.
About The Author
