LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — A brief nationwide strike launched by Nigeria’s oil workers union last week triggered a sharp drop in the country’s daily crude output, sparking anxiety over energy stability and public welfare.

The walkout, which began Sept. 28, was in response to the dismissal of over 800 unionized staff from the Dangote Refinery — Africa’s largest — a move the union condemned as retaliatory for organizing efforts. Estimates indicate the strike cut national oil output by about 16 percent, roughly 283,000 barrels per day, and suppressed power generation by over 1,200 megawatts. The disruption also delayed cargo loadings at key export terminals and forced delays in maintenance timelines across major energy infrastructure.

The government, facing mounting pressure, moved swiftly to avert a deeper crisis. Through negotiation and mediation by the labor ministry, officials secured a deal with Dangote Petroleum to reinstate the dismissed workers elsewhere in the group without pay loss. NNPC, the state oil company, said it deployed non-union staff and activated contingency plans to keep critical operations running during the disruption. A government statement called the strike a serious test of Nigeria’s energy resilience and vowed continued engagement with stakeholders to prevent recurrence.

Citizens expressed a mix of frustration and cautious relief. At fuel stations in Lagos, motorists complained of occasional shortages and longer queues over the past days. “I came out early today to fill up because word was the strike might starve us,” one driver said, asking not to be named. Others voiced concerns about inflation and the cost of living, especially with fresh memories of fuel scarcity from past disruptions. Still, some welcomed the resolution, hoping stability would be restored quickly.

As of today, the union has called off the strike, and operations at most facilities are resuming. But analysts say the episode exposed structural fragilities in Nigeria’s energy sector — especially the heavy dependence on unionized labor and limited buffer capacity. Observers warn that unless reforms address supply chain vulnerabilities, similar disruptions may recur.