Lagos – The Dangote Group of Companies has denied reports that the disengagement of 36 expatriate and 12 Nigerian  workers  from the company was due to economic recession in the country,

Mr Tony Chiejina, its Head of Corporate Affairs, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday  that the expatriates were disengaged because of job overlap.

He said the 12 Nigerians that were affected were in the procurement department whose services were now redundant due to growth in the company.

Chiejina said that in spite of  the recession, the Dangote group has been expanding its operations into oil and gas, rice and diary projects, fertiliser and petrochemicals, among others..

According to him, this expansion would create more employments in the company.

He said that the current recession has been a challenge to the company as it strives  to impact more favourably on the Nigerian economy.