Nigeria may be plunged into darkness from Monday as power generation companies warn of an imminent shutdown of thermal plants, following directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Joy Ogaji, Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, sounded the alarm in a WhatsApp message on Sunday, disclosing that gas suppliers had already notified power firms to halt deliveries in compliance with the union’s strike order.
“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.
Ogaji cautioned that without gas supply, hydroelectric stations alone cannot sustain the national grid, warning of widespread outages if the situation persists.
The looming blackout comes on the heels of PENGASSAN’s declaration of an indefinite nationwide strike, set to begin Monday after the alleged dismissal of more than 800 Nigerian workers by Dangote Refinery.
The directive followed an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
In a circular signed by General Secretary Lumumba Okugbawa, the union accused the refinery of flouting Nigeria’s labour laws, the Constitution, and International Labour Organisation conventions by sacking workers for joining PENGASSAN.
The NEC claimed the refinery replaced the affected staff with “over 2,000 Indians,” describing the move as “an affront to all workers in Nigeria.”
The circular ordered members in field locations to halt operations starting Sunday, while a total nationwide shutdown of all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies would follow from Monday.
“All PENGASSAN members working across field locations are to withdraw services effective 06:00hrs on Sunday, 28 September 2025 and commence 24-hour prayers. This includes all control room operations, panel operations, and outfield personnel.
“All PENGASSAN members across all offices, companies, institutions, and agencies should withdraw all services effective 00:01 on Monday, 29th of September, 2025.
“No intervention whatsoever will be entertained across field locations except where the safety of personnel and assets is at risk; such clearance must be obtained from the National Secretariat.
“All processes that involve gas and crude supply to Dangote Refinery should be let off effectively immediately.
“All IOC branches must ramp down gas production and supply to Dangote Refinery and petrochemicals,” the circular read in part.
The NEC also announced 24-hour prayer vigils, calling for government intervention and vowing that the strike would continue until the dismissed workers were reinstated.
“An injury to one is an injury to all. No man is bigger than our country,” the union declared.
The refinery has recently been at loggerheads with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over labour rights and safety standards.
The current clash stems from a letter issued by Dangote Refinery on September 24, 2025, in which the company accused some employees of sabotage that threatened the operational safety of the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility.
PENGASSAN insists around 800 workers were sacked and called on other unions, government agencies, and stakeholders to intervene, labelling the issue one of “urgent national importance.”
Dangote refinery resumes naira fuel sales after FG intervention
Dangote Refinery, however, denied carrying out mass dismissals, explaining instead that it was undergoing internal reorganisation to boost efficiency, and maintained that most of its workforce remained Nigerian.
If the strike is fully implemented, it could disrupt supplies to the refinery and spill over to downstream operations nationwide.
Meanwhile, the refinery has resumed petrol sales in naira after initially announcing a suspension due to crude allocation shortfalls.
In a memo to fuel marketers on Saturday, the company stated: “Following the intervention of the Naira for Crude Technical Committee Chairman, we are pleased to inform you of the resumption of PMS sales in Naira commencing immediately. You may kindly proceed to place your orders in Naira for both self-collection and free delivery of PMS to the earlier advised locations across the country. Thank you for your continued patronage.”
This development came less than 24 hours after the refinery said it would halt naira-based petrol sales starting Sunday, September 28, citing exhaustion of its crude-for-naira allocation.
That earlier notice had sparked fears among marketers of possible fuel price hikes and fresh pressure on the naira.
It was not the first time Dangote Refinery paused local currency sales. In March, a similar suspension triggered concerns of “fuel dollarisation,” pushing pump prices close to ₦1,000 per litre.
Trace union demands reinstatement of workers, public apology from Dangote
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has demanded the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of workers allegedly sacked by the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
TUC’s Secretary General, Mr Nuhu Toro, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He described the refinery’s action as anti-worker and unconstitutional.
“The dismissal of workers simply for exercising their constitutional right to freedom of association is a gross violation of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s obligations under ILO conventions,” he said.
He added that the TUC stood in full solidarity with PENGASSAN and the affected workers, warning that affiliates had been placed on red alert pending further directives.
“No corporation, regardless of its size or wealth, will be allowed to trample on the dignity and rights of Nigerian workers,” he added.
He said that the congress demanded a public apology from Dangote management, along with assurances against future victimisation, and called for an independent investigation involving the Ministry of Labour, ILO, and stakeholders into the refinery’s labour practices.
He said that TUC would not hesitate to mobilise for a national industrial action if its demands were ignored.
