Cooking gas price surge raises scarcity fears as marketers sound alarm
LPG dealers warn supply shortages and rising depot costs could push more households back to firewood and charcoal as cooking gas exceeds ₦1,500 per kilogramme.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has warned of a possible cooking gas shortage as supply disruptions and rising costs push Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices beyond the reach of many households.
The association said cooking gas is now selling for more than ₦1,500 per kilogramme in several parts of the country, while some retailers are dispensing the product at between ₦1,600 and ₦2,000 per kilogramme, depending on location.
According to the group, marketers currently pay between ₦25.2 million and ₦26.2 million for 20 metric tonnes of LPG, a development it says is worsening affordability challenges for consumers and threatening gains made in Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
Checks by our correspondent confirmed that cooking gas prices have risen sharply from below ₦1,000 per kilogramme in recent months to around ₦1,500 and above in many locations nationwide.
In a statement jointly signed by NALPGAM National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Bassey Essien, the association blamed the situation on persistent supply shortages, rising depot prices, logistics constraints and increasing operational costs across the value chain.
The marketers warned that continued supply challenges could trigger scarcity and place additional pressure on millions of households, food vendors and small businesses that depend on LPG for daily operations.
“We observe that where product is available, it is sold at rates far beyond the reach of average Nigerians,” the association stated.
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NALPGAM said the rising cost of cooking gas is eroding progress made through government efforts to promote cleaner energy alternatives and reduce dependence on traditional fuels.
According to the association, many households are already struggling to refill gas cylinders, while some low-income families are reportedly returning to firewood and charcoal as LPG becomes increasingly unaffordable.
The group cautioned that if the trend persists, it could worsen food inflation, threaten small-scale LPG retail businesses, discourage investment in the sector and undermine Nigeria’s environmental and climate objectives.
It also expressed concern that years of investment aimed at expanding LPG adoption could be reversed if affordability and supply challenges are not addressed urgently.
To stabilise the market, NALPGAM called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), domestic producers and other industry stakeholders to coordinate efforts to improve supply and moderate prices.
The association recommended increased domestic allocation of LPG, greater transparency in product distribution, reduced bottlenecks in importation and logistics, investment in storage and distribution infrastructure, and targeted interventions to improve affordability.
It maintained that urgent action is required to prevent further disruptions in the market and protect access to clean cooking energy for millions of Nigerians.
