The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has raised the alarm over a major drop in electricity generation on the national grid, attributing it to industrial action within the gas supply chain.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the agency said: “The Nigerian Independent System Operator 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 within the gas supply chain.”
According to the NISO, the labour disruptions led to widespread gas shortages, cutting generation significantly.
“These disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28th September 2025, to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point,” the statement added.
To cushion the impact, the agency said it rolled out urgent measures to preserve grid stability.
“In response, the NISO promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid. Key interventions include:
“Hydropower Optimisation: Strategic ramp-ups from major hydro stations, contributing over 400 MW of additional output to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants.
“Generation Dispatch and Load Balancing: Real-time load adjustments to match available generation with system demand, while preventing a system frequency collapse.
“Voltage and Frequency Support: Continuous deployment of reactive power compensation and reserve monitoring to safeguard system integrity.
“Demand-Side Management: Selective load shedding, applied as a last resort, to avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution.”
NISO explained that the swift interventions helped minimise the disruption.
“These timely actions enabled the NISO NCC to minimise the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages, sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout.”
The agency also gave assurances of its commitment to safeguarding power supply.
“The System Operator reaffirms its commitment to proactive grid management, operational excellence, and applying best-in-class practices to guarantee a secure and reliable electricity supply for the nation”.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) commenced a nationwide strike, effectively shutting down key oil and gas regulatory institutions.
The strike, which began on Monday, September 29, 2025, has paralysed operations at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
PENGASSAN members nationwide have withdrawn their services, ensuring 100% compliance at the critical agencies.
The union’s directive to halt crude oil and gas supplies to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sent shockwaves through the energy sector, with oil marketers warning of severe disruptions in fuel distribution.
The strike follows the reported dismissal of about 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which PENGASSAN has described as a violation of Nigerian labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions.
Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a full-scale mobilisation against the Dangote Group, accusing the refinery of running a parallel authority in Nigeria and trampling on workers’ rights.
In a strongly worded statement, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, faulted the actions of the refinery, describing them as a direct affront to Nigerian laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions. He said the dispute was a “symptom of a deeper sickness; a capitalist pathology of union-busting, worker enslavement, and gross impunity that defines the Group’s industrial relations strategy.”
According to him, “Dangote Group has operated for too long as a state within a state, flouting Section 40 of our Constitution, violating ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and treating our national labour laws with contempt. Their facilities are not workplaces but plantations of exploitation, where the dignity of the worker is systematically crushed to maximise profit for the few.”
Leave a Reply