By Ayo Kehinde
Nigeria’s power generation slipped below 4,000 megawatts on Tuesday as the strike by oil and gas workers under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) entered its second day.
The industrial action, which has paralysed operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, is now rippling through the country’s already fragile energy sector.
Latest figures from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) showed available generation at just over 3,900MW in the early hours of Tuesday, down from an average of 4,300MW recorded before the strike.
Distribution companies in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt reported worsening load shedding as supply dwindled.
The strike stems from a labour dispute between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery over alleged anti-labour practices, including union recognition, welfare issues, and contract staffing.
A marathon meeting convened by the Federal Government on Monday night broke down without agreement, leaving the impasse unresolved. Another round of talks is scheduled for later on Tuesday in Abuja.
Union leaders, however, insist the strike will continue until their demands are met.
With the national grid already strained, businesses and households now face the prospect of prolonged blackouts unless a breakthrough is reached in the coming days.
