Total Darkness Looms as PENGASSAN Strike Over Dangote Refinery Sackings Threatens Nigeria’s Power Supply

Nigeria faces the possibility of a crippling nationwide blackout as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) begins a nationwide strike on Monday, following a bitter dispute with the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery over the dismissal of more than 800 workers. The industrial action, which comes on the heels of an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the union, has sent shockwaves across key sectors of the economy, with immediate consequences threatening to plunge the country into darkness, paralyze fuel supply, and disrupt crude oil production. Power generating companies have already warned of imminent shutdowns as gas suppliers issued directives to cut supply to thermal power stations in strict compliance with the union’s order. This alarming development was confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, Joy Ogaji, who disclosed in a message on Sunday that operators had been served notices to halt gas supply, making it clear that thermal power plants, which account for more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s electricity generation, would go offline. “Good day, all. Thermal GenCos have received notification from our gas suppliers to shut down our thermal power plants following directives from PENGASSAN. The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” she wrote in a WhatsApp message that quickly made the rounds among stakeholders in the power sector. Ogaji, who raised the alarm over the looming crisis, warned that hydroelectric dams, which currently provide supplementary power to the grid, cannot sustain the country’s energy demands alone. According to her, the planned halt in gas supply would leave hydro dams grossly overstretched, raising fears of a total system collapse and nationwide blackout. “Hydro cannot carry the load,” she cautioned, adding that Nigerians should brace for imminent darkness if the dispute is not resolved swiftly. The warning has heightened tension across the country, with fears mounting over how households, businesses, industries, and essential services will cope if power supply is cut drastically.

PENGASSAN’s strike action is directly linked to the recent dismissal of more than 800 employees at the Dangote Refinery, a move the union has condemned as unjust, high-handed, and unacceptable. The union’s leadership accused the management of the refinery of flouting labor laws and engaging in anti-worker practices, describing the mass sacking as an attack on organized labor. After deliberations during its emergency NEC meeting on Saturday, PENGASSAN resolved to direct all its members across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to immediately down tools until the refinery recalls the affected staff. The union emphasized that it had exhausted all avenues for dialogue and peaceful resolution before resorting to strike action, but the refinery’s management allegedly remained unyielding. PENGASSAN’s President, Festus Osifo, insisted that the decision to proceed with the strike was unanimous and necessary to send a strong signal that workers’ rights could not be trampled upon. He stated that the strike would continue indefinitely until the demands of the union are met. The industrial action has wide-ranging implications because PENGASSAN’s members operate at critical nodes of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, including oil production facilities, gas plants, refineries, and pipelines. With members now withdrawing their services, crude production is expected to take a sharp hit, while fuel supply and distribution networks may grind to a halt. Already, oil marketers have warned of potential scarcity and long queues at filling stations if the strike persists, as depots may struggle to load products.

The most immediate and frightening impact, however, lies in electricity generation. Thermal plants fueled by natural gas generate more than two-thirds of Nigeria’s power supply, making them indispensable to the stability of the national grid. With gas suppliers halting deliveries, the plants have no choice but to shut down operations. The country would then be forced to rely heavily on hydroelectric stations such as Kainji, Shiroro, and Jebba, which lack the capacity to meet peak national demand on their own. Industry experts warn that such heavy dependence on hydro alone could destabilize the fragile grid, leading to nationwide system collapse. For millions of Nigerians already grappling with erratic electricity, high inflation, and rising fuel costs, the looming blackout represents yet another blow to daily survival. Small businesses, which rely heavily on power for operations, could be the hardest hit, while hospitals, schools, and essential services may also struggle to cope. The manufacturing sector, already battling high operating costs, is expected to face unprecedented disruption if power supply is crippled.

The strike also poses serious risks to government revenues, as Nigeria’s oil production and exports may take a significant hit. Crude oil remains the country’s largest source of foreign exchange, and any disruption to output could worsen the nation’s already fragile economic position. Observers say the situation is further complicated by Nigeria’s heavy dependence on the newly commissioned Dangote Refinery for domestic fuel supply, with the ongoing dispute now threatening to stall operations at the facility. Political analysts and labor watchers are urging urgent intervention from the federal government to avert what could quickly spiral into a national crisis. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter, but sources indicate that backchannel talks are underway between government officials, PENGASSAN leaders, and the management of the Dangote Refinery.

However, labor leaders have made it clear that unless the sacked workers are reinstated, there will be no going back on the strike. They argue that allowing the dismissals to stand would set a dangerous precedent for other employers in the oil and gas sector, potentially emboldening companies to trample on workers’ rights without consequence. Meanwhile, ordinary Nigerians are bracing for tough days ahead, with many already stocking up on fuel for generators and preparing for longer periods of blackout. Social media is awash with expressions of anger, fear, and frustration as citizens demand swift government action to prevent another nationwide shutdown of essential services.

The looming crisis underscores the deep structural vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s energy sector, which has long been plagued by inefficiency, corruption, and policy inconsistencies. For decades, the country has struggled to achieve stable power supply despite abundant gas reserves and hydro resources. The current strike highlights how heavily the nation’s electricity depends on gas-fired plants and how quickly disruptions in the oil and gas sector cascade into wider national emergencies. As Nigeria heads into a new week, uncertainty looms large. The question on everyone’s lips is whether the government will intervene decisively to resolve the dispute and protect the economy from the devastating impact of a prolonged strike. With warnings of imminent darkness already ringing, Nigerians wait anxiously to see whether lights will stay on—or whether the nation will be plunged into a blackout that could paralyze daily life and push an already strained economy to the brink.