Nigeria may be plunged into darkness from Monday as thermal power plants prepare to shut down operations following directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.
According to The PUNCH, Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, Dr. Joy Ogaji, confirmed on Sunday that gas suppliers had already notified power generation companies of plans to halt supply in compliance with the oil workers’ strike.
“Thermal GenCos have received notifications from our gas suppliers to shut down operations based on PENGASSAN’s directive.
The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” Ogaji said in a statement.
She warned that hydroelectric dams alone cannot carry the national grid. “Please be aware that darkness is imminent, as hydros alone cannot sustain the system,” she added.
The warning follows PENGASSAN’s announcement of a nationwide strike beginning Monday in protest against the dismissal of more than 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
After an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, the union directed members across oil and gas installations to withdraw their services until the sackings were reversed.
Industry experts caution that the shutdown of thermal plants—which provide over 70 percent of Nigeria’s electricity—could stretch hydro stations beyond capacity, trigger widespread blackouts, and risk a nationwide grid collapse.
Energy analyst, Tunde Alade, told reporters that the development could worsen the country’s economic hardship.
“Once gas supply is halted, it’s only a matter of hours before the grid begins to wobble. This action will cripple crude production, fuel supply, and electricity, all at the same time,” he explained.
The federal government has yet to issue an official statement on the looming crisis.
