FG’s Push for Cooking Gas Stability

FG’s Push for Cooking Gas Stability

The Federal Government’s recent directive to marketers to increase cooking gas imports is a decisive intervention aimed at addressing the nationwide shortfall and stabilizing prices.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, announced that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has been tasked with intensifying engagement with producers, marketers, and stakeholders to boost Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply.

This move comes against the backdrop of rising costs driven by foreign exchange volatility, logistics challenges, infrastructure constraints, and fluctuations in international LPG prices.

The government’s reassurance is clear: households, industries, and power generation must have reliable and affordable access to cooking gas. Marketers have already committed to increasing import volumes to complement domestic production, while the commencement of deliveries from Seplat’s new gas facility in July is expected to significantly bolster national supply.

Ekpo emphasized that no producer is exporting LPG meant for local consumption, underscoring regulatory measures designed to prioritize domestic needs.

Price data from the National Bureau of Statistics paints a stark picture of the strain on consumers. The average price of a 5kg cylinder rose from ₦7,655.73 in March to ₦8,706.93 in April, a 13.73% increase.

Similarly, the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder jumped from ₦19,652.83 in March to ₦22,382.20 in April, representing a 13.89% month-on-month surge. Year-on-year comparisons also show double-digit increases, highlighting the urgency of government intervention.

Ekpo insists that these price hikes should not be seen as policy failures but rather as reflections of global market realities. He pointed to ongoing interventions, including the directive that all LPG produced in Nigeria be prioritized for local consumption, a policy that has already strengthened domestic supply and reduced dependence on imports.

The outlook, according to the Minister, remains positive, with the government committed to long-term energy security and affordability.

This directive is more than a short-term fix; it signals a broader strategy to stabilize the domestic LPG market, protect consumers from volatility, and ensure Nigeria’s energy future is resilient.

The challenge now lies in execution, whether increased imports and new production facilities can truly offset the pressures of global market forces and deliver relief to Nigerian households.