Cooking gas price rises to N1,500 per kilogram amid looming supply shortage warning by marketers.

–         Depot price spikes to N26m for 20MT

–         NALPGAM warns of SMEs’ shutdown, collapse of FG’s clean energy gains 

Peter Uzoho 

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has sounded an alarm over a new surge in cooking gas prices and irregular supply, warning that millions of households and small businesses could face serious hardship if urgent action is not taken.

In a statement released yesterday, signed jointly by National President Edu Inyang and Executive Secretary Bassey Essien, NALPGAM reported that Nigerians are now paying more than N1,500 per kilogram of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Marketers, meanwhile, are required to purchase 20 metric tons at prices ranging from N25.2 million to N26.2 million, depending on location.

“It is sad and rather very pathetic to inform the general public that the citizens of Nigeria have woken up to buy cooking gas which should be a social item at a prohibitive cost of over N1,500 per kg,” the association said.

The group cautioned that the situation could provoke public backlash against gas filling stations if it is not addressed immediately, adding that citizens might rise against station owners if the problem is not checked.

According to NALPGAM, members across the country are grappling with persistent supply shortages, high depot prices, logistical bottlenecks, and rising operational costs. Where product is available, it is sold at rates far beyond the reach of average Nigerians.

The association noted that the crisis is reversing years of progress achieved under the federal government’s clean energy transition agenda.

It highlighted that millions of households that had switched from kerosene, charcoal, and firewood are now struggling to refill cylinders or are reverting to dirtier fuels.

“Households are struggling to refill cylinders, small businesses are folding under rising energy costs while many families are reverting to firewood and charcoal despite the serious implications for public health, environmental degradation, and deforestation,” the statement read.

The warning comes as Nigeria’s LPG market shows mixed signals. Domestic supply had previously improved significantly, with local refineries and gas plants—led by Dangote Refinery and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited—supplying 87 percent of Nigeria’s cooking gas in 2025.

Nigeria’s LPG consumption also rose from 900,000 metric tonnes in 2021 to two million metric tonnes in 2025, making it the fastest‑growing market in Africa.

With the latest relapse, NALPGAM said the crisis threatens broader economic stability.

“If urgent and coordinated actions are not taken immediately, the current crisis could trigger broader consequences, including accelerated food inflation, the collapse of small‑scale LPG retail businesses, job losses, reduced investor confidence, and a significant setback to Nigeria’s clean energy and climate commitments,” it said.

THISDAY’s checks showed that Nigeria’s per capita LPG consumption remains low at 1.8 kg, compared to nearly 500 kg in Saudi Arabia.

The association has called on relevant industry stakeholders—including the federal government, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NNPC Ltd, domestic producers, and terminal operators—to act decisively to address the situation.

It recommended, among other measures, that domestic LPG allocation be increased for the Nigerian market; ensure transparent and equitable distribution across regions; reduce bottlenecks in importation, storage, and distribution; and implement strategic interventions to stabilise retail prices.

NALPGAM also urged companies with adequate investible capital to invest in storage and distribution infrastructure to prevent future shocks.

It added that immediate measures to improve the availability and accessibility of LPG nationwide were needed, noting that the current crisis undermines policies and investments aimed at deepening LPG penetration.

“We cannot stand by and watch millions of Nigerian families suffer in silence while access to clean cooking energy becomes increasingly difficult and unaffordable,” it said.

“For years, government and industry operators have worked to move Nigerians away from unsafe fuels. Those gains are now under serious threat,” NALPGAM stated.

It said it remains ready to collaborate with all stakeholders but stressed that decisive action was needed now to stabilise supply and pricing.