NALPGAM Raises Alarm Over Soaring Cooking Gas Prices, Warns Of Imminent Hardship

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has sounded the alarm over the recent surge in cooking gas prices, warning that if urgent action is not taken, millions of households and small businesses will face severe hardship. According to the association, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas has skyrocketed to over ₦1,500 per kilogram, while marketers are forced to purchase 20 metric tons at a cost of ₦25.2 million to ₦26.2 million, depending on the location. This situation has resulted in a significant increase in the cost of cooking gas, making it unaffordable for many Nigerians. The association's National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Bassey Essien, stated that it is 'sad and rather very pathetic' that Nigerians have to buy cooking gas at such a high cost. They warned that if the situation is not addressed immediately, it could lead to public backlash against gas filling stations, with citizens potentially rising against the owners of these stations. The association noted that its members are struggling with persistent supply shortages, high depot prices, logistics bottlenecks, and rising operational costs. As a result, many households that had switched to cleaner energy are now struggling to refill their cylinders or 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 crisis threatens to undermine the progress made in the federal government's clean energy transition agenda. Nigeria's LPG market had previously shown significant improvement, with local refineries and gas plants, led by Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, supplying 87 per cent of the country's cooking gas in 2025. However, the current crisis could have broader economic implications, 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. The association has called on relevant stakeholders, including the federal government, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NNPC Ltd, domestic producers, and terminal operators, to take decisive action to address the situation. They recommended increasing domestic LPG allocation to the Nigerian market, ensuring transparent and equitable distribution across regions, reducing bottlenecks in importation, storage, and distribution, and implementing strategic interventions to stabilize retail prices. The association also urged companies with adequate investible capital to invest in storage and distribution infrastructure to prevent future shocks. Immediate measures to improve the availability and accessibility of LPG nationwide are needed, as 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,' the association stated. They remain ready to collaborate with all stakeholders but stressed that decisive action is needed now to stabilize supply and pricing.