Gas marketers across Nigeria have raised alarm over the worsening scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, and the sharp increase in its market price.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), in a statement issued on Sunday, expressed concern over what it described as irregular supply and continuous price hikes affecting consumers and operators nationwide.
According to the association, the retail price of cooking gas has risen from about ₦1,300 per kilogram to as high as ₦1,500 per kilogram in several locations across the country.
NALPGAM also disclosed that marketers now pay between ₦25.2 million and ₦26.2 million for 20 metric tonnes of LPG, depending on the location of purchase.
The association described the development as unfortunate, warning that the soaring cost of cooking gas could provoke public frustration against gas retailers if urgent intervention is not provided.
It noted that the rising prices and persistent scarcity have imposed severe hardship on millions of households, food vendors, small businesses and low-income earners who depend on cooking gas for daily use.
According to the marketers, the situation threatens the progress made in promoting clean energy adoption in Nigeria, as many families are gradually returning to the use of charcoal and firewood due to the increasing cost of LPG.
NALPGAM further explained that marketers are currently battling product shortages, expensive depot prices, distribution challenges and rising operational costs, all of which continue to worsen the crisis in the sector.
The association warned that if the current situation persists, it could negatively affect food prices, force small LPG businesses to shut down, reduce investor confidence and undermine Nigeria’s clean energy and climate goals.
It added that years of efforts by both government and private stakeholders to encourage the use of safer cooking energy alternatives are now under serious threat.
The marketers therefore called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, domestic producers and other industry stakeholders to urgently intervene and stabilise the market.
Among the measures requested were increased domestic LPG supply, transparent product distribution across regions, reduction of importation and storage bottlenecks, improved infrastructure investment and policies that would make cooking gas more affordable for Nigerians.
NALPGAM reaffirmed its willingness to work with relevant authorities and stakeholders to develop lasting solutions capable of guaranteeing stable supply, affordable pricing and sustainable growth in the LPG sector.
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