Nigeria’s Power Supply Drops Amid Oil Workers’ Strike

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There are indications that Nigeria’s power generation has recorded a significant drop from over 4,300 megawatts (MW) to 3,200MW following a nationwide strike embarked on by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) on Sunday, September 28 2025.

The industrial action has reportedly disrupted gas deliveries to power stations, leading to power supply cut.

According to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), the power supply cut was recorded in the early hours of Sunday, 28 September 2025.

NISO said the PENGASSAN strike led to widespread gas shortage, causing a generation shortfall on the national grid.

“The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) wishes to notify the public of recent major generation shortfalls on the national grid, caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.

“These disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28 September 2025, to about 3,200MW at the lowest point,” NISO stated.

The system operator said its technical team subsequently deployed contingency measures to ensure the stability of the national grid. “Key interventions include hydropower optimisation, generation dispatch and load balancing, and voltage and frequency support,” NISO said in a statement released to newsmen.

To avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution, it said selective load shedding was applied as a last resort, adding that the measure enabled the NISO National Control Centre (NCC) to minimise the impact of the gas shortages caused by labour strike. This helped to sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout.

NISO reaffirmed its commitment to proactive grid management and ensuring a secure and reliable electricity supply for the country.

Pinnacle daily had reported that PENGASSAN embarked on a nationwide strike following a dispute with the management of the Dangote Refinery over alleged sacking of 800 Nigerian workers who joined the labour union.

It has vowed to continue the strike until its demands are met. This is as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have backed PENGASSAN and threatened to embark on solidarity strike if Dangote Refinery fails to comply.

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Victor EZEJA

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Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.