NIGERIA’S energy sector is still reeling from last week’s strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says slashed oil output by 16 percent, gas supply by 30 percent, and electricity generation by 20 percent.
The three-day industrial action, which began on September 28, disrupted operations at major facilities including Shell’s Bonga floating production unit, the Oben gas plant, and delayed cargo loadings at export terminals such as Akpo, Brass, and Egina.
Production deferments also hit Nigeria LNG, triggering a ripple effect across the supply chain.
In a letter to regulators, NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, revealed that within the first 24 hours of the strike, about 283,000 barrels of oil per day, 1.7 billion standard cubic feet of gas, and over 1,200 megawatts of power were affected.
He warned that extended disruptions could pose a serious threat to national energy security.
Ojulari noted that the stoppage created immediate revenue losses, delayed projects, and placed cash flow pressures on operators, stressing that the impacts reached beyond the Dangote Refinery.
Although the strike was suspended following government intervention, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo insisted that the union’s grievances remain unresolved.
He clarified that the union did not sign any agreement with Dangote Refinery, which it accuses of unlawfully sacking over 800 Nigerian staff and replacing them with foreign workers.
Osifo explained that the strike was halted in good faith to ease pressure on members and their families but warned that PENGASSAN could resume action if issues are not addressed.
“Our tools are always available. We have been around for 50 years before the Dangote Refinery came on stream,” he said.
The NNPCL has raised fresh concerns about the fragility of Nigeria’s energy sector, cautioning that the incident underscores the urgent need for structural reforms and stronger safeguards for energy security.