Controversy has erupted as Dangote announces its plan to employ 11,000 Indian workers for its refinery, sparking public outrage in Nigeria over concerns about local job opportunities. Given the high unemployment rate in Nigeria, many citizens are upset that Dangote has opted to hire Indian workers instead of Nigerians.
The Sub-Saharan African Skills and Apprenticeship Stakeholders Network has shed some light on the matter, explaining that the decision to hire Indian workers was influenced by the perceived lack of necessary skills among Nigerian youth. This revelation has fueled the trending discussions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing frustration about the situation.
A recent report by the Punch Newspaper revealed that Dangote Refinery indeed employed 11,000 Indians, but the company defended its decision. According to the report, Dangote Refinery has also employed over 30,000 skilled Nigerians to work alongside expatriates during the construction of the Refinery Complex. The management clarified that the magnitude of the project required a specialized workforce from around the world, and while many Nigerians were engaged in skilled roles, Indian and Chinese workers were also brought in at certain stages.
Dangote Refinery has emphasized that Nigerian workers on the project have shown a high level of technical competence, and many hidden skills have been discovered among them. The project itself is significant, as it is Africa's largest refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, aiming to produce substantial amounts of gasoline and diesel, contributing to fuel self-sufficiency and reducing petroleum imports expenditure.
