Nigeria may be plunged into a nationwide blackout from Monday as power generation companies warn of an imminent shutdown of thermal power plants.The warning follows directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN),
which has ordered its members to down tools in protest over unresolved industrial issues.Thermal power plants, which supply the bulk of the nation’s electricity, depend heavily on gas. With PENGASSAN workers withdrawing their services, gas supply to the plants is expected to be cut off, crippling electricity generation across the country.
Operators in the power sector have expressed concern that the strike action could worsen Nigeria’s fragile electricity situation, leaving millions of homes and businesses in darkness.Industry insiders caution that unless urgent steps are taken to resolve the standoff, the shutdown of thermal plants could lead to a near-total collapse of the national grid.Government officials are yet to issue a formal response, but negotiations are believed to be ongoing in a bid to avert the looming crisis.