NALPGAM raises alarm over rising cooking gas prices

Lagos: Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has expressed concern over the worsening shortage and rising price of cooking gas across the country.

The association made this known in a joint statement signed by its President, Mr Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Mr Bassey Effiong, on Sunday in Lagos.

NALPGAM said the current state of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply as challenging, noting that consumers now buy cooking gas at over N1,500 per kilogramme nationwide.

The association said marketers currently pay between N25.2 million and N26.2 million for a 20-metric-tonne truck of LPG, depending on location, thereby pushing retail prices beyond the reach of many Nigerians.

According to the statement, the rising cost and erratic supply of cooking gas have imposed severe hardship on households, food vendors, small businesses and low-income earners who depend on LPG for daily cooking.

NALPGAM warned that the crisis threatens years of progress made by the Federal Government and private investors in promoting clean cooking energy as an alternative to firewood, charcoal and kerosene.

The marketers said many Nigerians who previously embraced cooking gas could no longer refill their cylinders, while several households had returned to the use of firewood and charcoal in spite of the environmental and health risks.

The association also expressed concern over challenges confronting marketers nationwide, including persistent supply shortages, high depot prices, logistics bottlenecks and rising operational costs.

It warned that without urgent intervention, the crisis could worsen food inflation, force small LPG businesses to shut down, trigger job losses, discourage investment and undermine Nigeria’s clean energy goals.

NALPGAM called on the Federal Government and key industry stakeholders to urgently intervene and stabilise the LPG market.

The stakeholders include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NNPC Limited, domestic producers and terminal operators.

Among its recommendations, the association called for improved LPG availability nationwide, increased domestic gas allocation, transparent distribution, reduction of importation and storage bottlenecks, strategic price stabilisation measures and investment in critical infrastructure.

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

NALPGAM added that it remained ready to collaborate with government agencies and industry stakeholders to develop lasting solutions that would guarantee stable supply and affordable pricing of cooking gas in Nigeria.