Firm ups grid supply as Afam 2 plant ramps up generation to 160MW
Electricity workers, under the Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), yesterday, suspended their industrial action following the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Power.
NUEE had directed its members in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to withdraw their services indefinitely following unresolved disputes with management over staff welfare and operational challenges.
This was as Sahara Group’s Afam 2 Power Plant in Rivers State ramped up generation to 180 megawatts (MW), boosting supply to Nigeria’s national grid and advancing the nation’s energy reliability agenda.
In a statement signed by its acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, NUEE said the strike became necessary after the expiration of its ultimatum to TCN management, which allegedly failed to address issues bordering on workers’ welfare and service delivery.
The worker’s grievances listed include non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisation of workers, non-provision of tools, materials and personal protective equipment since 2021, as well as the non-payment of staff salaries since April.
Other concerns raised are lack of operational vehicles, non-payment of retirement benefits, and outstanding issues arising from the unbundling of TCN.
However, the truce was reached at an emergency meeting convened by the ministry in Abuja, with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the National Independent System Operator (NISO) and representatives of the Ministry of Labour.
The unions had earlier issued an ultimatum to TCN management over unresolved labour issues, which elapsed on Monday, and led to picketing of the company.
At the end of the marathon talks yesterday, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) resolving that the unions would consider a committee report on October 6 and 7 for possible implementation within the month. TCN and NISO were mandated to assess the financial implications and draw up an implementation plan for further discussions with the minister and the unions.
It was further agreed that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) would expedite review of tariffs for TCN and NISO to support the process, while no employee would be victimised for participating in the action.
With the agreement, the unions announced the suspension of their action to allow the resolutions to be implemented.
“The unions honour the minister’s request to look at the committee’s report by October 6 to 7, 2025 for consideration of the implementation from the month of October 2025; the two organisations (TCN and NISO) shall meet to evaluate the financial implication of the report and prepare an implementation plan to be discussed with the minister and the unions; the two in-house unions will reconvene in another meeting with the management of TCN and NISO to resolve other issues accordingly,” the agreement reads.
The 180MW facility in Rivers, commissioned by President Bola Tinubu on June 5, 2025, emerged as a critical contributor to the country’s energy sector. Its performance, according to the company, reflects the group’s commitment to bringing energy to life responsibly by ensuring reliable power for homes, communities and businesses nationwide.
The Group Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, Dr Kola Adesina, described the milestone as a testament to the company’s human capital and its unwavering vision of lighting up Africa.
“It is noteworthy that this achievement was recorded with zero downtime incidents, reflecting the expertise and technical excellence of the team on the ground. We are proud of the team and our collective achievement,” he said.
Sahara Power Group, a subsidiary of Sahara Group, is one of Africa’s foremost private power businesses, with affiliates including Egbin Power Plc, the largest privately-run thermal plant in sub-Saharan Africa; Ikeja Electric Plc, Nigeria’s biggest power distribution company; and First Independent Power Limited, a leading generation firm in the country.
Adesina attributed the ramp-up at Afam 2 to recent improvements in gas supply and ongoing infrastructure upgrades, which have enabled the plant to optimise its output in line with national demand. He stressed that “Afam 2 plays a pivotal role” in Sahara Group’s broader strategy of delivering cleaner, more reliable energy solutions to support socio-economic growth.
According to him, the development also underscores the group’s alignment with the Federal Government’s energy transition and infrastructure development goals.
He added: “Sahara Group is grateful for the collaboration and support from regulators, stakeholders and host communities in our bid to drive inclusive energy access across Nigeria.”
