By SUNDAY ABAH, Abuja
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has notified the general public of recent major generation shortfalls on the national grid,
According to NISO, they were caused by industrial actions of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) within the gas supply chain.
The operator in a statement released in the wee hours of Tuesday explained that the disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation from over 4,300 MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28th September 2025, to about 3,200 MW at the lowest point.
In the statement NISO confirmed its response, saying it had promptly deployed contingency measures to preserve the stability, security, and reliability of the National Grid.
Key interventions by NISO, according to the statement, included:
Hydropower Optimisation – strategic ramp-ups from major hydro stations, contributing over 400 MW of additional output to cushion the shortfall from gas-fired plants; Generation Dispatch and Load Balancing – real-time load adjustments to match available generation with system demand, while preventing a system frequency collapse.
Others are Voltage and Frequency Support – continuous deployment of reactive power compensation and reserve monitoring to safeguard system integrity; Demand-Side Management – selective load shedding, applied as a last resort, to avert a system-wide collapse and ensure fair power distribution.
The statement partly read: “These timely actions enabled the NISO NCC to minimise the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages, sustain operational security, and maintain supply to critical loads, thereby averting a nationwide blackout.
“The System Operator reaffirms its commitment to proactive grid management, operational excellence, and the application of best-in-class practices to guarantee a secure and reliable electricity supply for the nation.”