The Federal Government has directed a clampdown on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketers hoarding or exploiting consumers following the sharp increase in the price of cooking gas across the country
This directive was issued by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, on Monday.
In recent weeks, the price of cooking gas has soared from about ₦1,000 per kilogram to nearly ₦2,000/kg in some locations, despite the suspension of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) strike that disrupted operations at the Dangote Refinery.
Ekpo, expressing concern over the sustained high prices and scarcity, appealed to Nigerians for calm, assuring that the situation was temporary and expected to stabilise soon.
“The sharp rise in prices was triggered by two main factors — the industrial action by PENGASSAN at the Dangote Refinery and ongoing maintenance at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility,” he explained.
According to the minister, the strike temporarily halted LPG loading activities at the Dangote Refinery, while maintenance work at NLNG reduced gas supply to the domestic market, creating a demand–supply gap and pushing prices upward.
He, however, noted that the situation was improving, as operations had resumed at the Dangote Refinery with LPG loading already underway. The Bonny River Terminal, operated by Seplat Energy, had also started loading, while NLNG was gradually restoring operations as maintenance neared completion.
“With these developments, supply to the domestic market is expected to stabilise by next week, leading to a gradual reduction in prices,” Ekpo assured.
Reiterating that the LPG market remains deregulated, the minister urged marketers and distributors to act responsibly and refrain from hoarding or exploiting consumers for profit.
To enforce compliance, he directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify monitoring of LPG depots nationwide to curb hoarding and other unfair practices that could worsen the situation.
Ekpo reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring an adequate and affordable supply of cooking gas for Nigerian households.
“The government remains resolute in guaranteeing sufficient and affordable LPG supply to homes across the country,” he said.
