KEY POINTS
- Cooking gas prices have risen to between N1,500 and N1,700 per kilogram nationwide, according to LPG marketers.
- NALPGAM warned that continued price hikes could spark public outrage and push Nigerians back to firewood and charcoal usage.
- The association urged the Federal Government and stakeholders to improve supply, reduce bottlenecks and stabilise LPG prices urgently.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, NALPGAM, has expressed serious concern over the sharp increase in the price of cooking gas across the country, warning that the situation could trigger public anger against operators of gas filling stations.
According to the association, the price of cooking gas, also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), now ranges between N1,500 and N1,700 per kilogram in several parts of Nigeria.
Marketers also disclosed that the cost of purchasing a 20-metric-tonne truck of LPG has risen to between N25.2 million and N26.2 million, depending on the location.
Speaking on behalf of the association, NALPGAM National President, Mr. Edu Inyang, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene and stabilise both the supply and pricing of cooking gas.
He lamented that the rising cost of LPG has placed severe pressure on millions of Nigerian households, food vendors, small-scale businesses and low-income earners who depend on cooking gas for daily activities.
Inyang described the development as unfortunate, noting that a product considered essential for everyday living has become too expensive for average Nigerians.
He warned that if urgent steps are not taken to address the crisis, frustrated citizens could direct their anger at gas station owners and operators.
Supply Challenges and Operational Costs Blamed
NALPGAM attributed the increase in cooking gas prices to persistent supply shortages, high depot costs, transportation difficulties and increasing operational expenses faced by marketers nationwide.
The association explained that the current market conditions are making it difficult for retailers to maintain affordable prices for consumers.
The marketers further warned that the soaring LPG prices are reversing years of progress made in Nigeria’s clean energy campaign.
According to the association, many households are gradually returning to the use of firewood and charcoal because they can no longer afford cooking gas. This trend, they said, poses serious health and environmental risks, while also threatening Nigeria’s clean energy and climate goals.
NALPGAM also cautioned that failure to quickly resolve the situation could worsen food inflation, force small LPG businesses to shut down, lead to job losses and discourage investment in the sector.
The association therefore called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), NNPC Limited, domestic gas producers and other stakeholders in the LPG value chain to take coordinated action to stabilise the market.
