Weeks after the Federal Government promised to tackle the soaring cost of Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, residents of Abuja say the price remains alarmingly high.
A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday showed that the commodity still sells for as much as ₦1,800 per kilogramme, particularly among roadside retailers.
NAN observed that the price of LPG, which previously hovered around ₦1,100 per kg, skyrocketed to ₦1,800 per kg following the strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
In response to the hike, the Federal Government directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify monitoring of LPG depots to prevent hoarding.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, attributed the recent spike to two major factors:
The industrial action by PENGASSAN at the Dangote Refinery, and
Ongoing maintenance at the NLNG Train 4 facility, which reduced domestic supply.
However, he assured Nigerians that supply pressures were easing.
“Operations at the Dangote Refinery have resumed, with loading of LPG to the domestic market already ongoing,” Ekpo said.
He added that the Bonny River Terminal operated by Seplat had resumed loading operations, while the NLNG facility was gradually restoring normal output.
Retailers Say They Cannot Sell Below Cost
At local retail points, sellers say they are still offloading gas bought at inflated prices.
“I still have old stock. When the price we buy comes down, we will also sell at a reduced rate,” a retailer, Kingsley Paul, told NAN.
At one major outlet, cooking gas sold for ₦1,450 per kg, with the manager, who preferred anonymity, also blaming old stock for the high price.
Amid the prolonged hike, many Nigerians are urging the government to take decisive steps to make cooking gas affordable.
Environmental expert, Christian Chibuzor praised the government’s clean-energy agenda but warned that high costs could derail the transition.
He said, “Using cooking gas will help lower carbon emissions compared to traditional firewood, charcoal, or kerosene, which will help mitigate climate change and improve air quality, thereby, reducing respiratory diseases.
“However, if the price remains high, the transition to cooking gas will be difficult to achieve, especially in rural areas. Therefore, the government must demonstrate commitment to reducing the price.”
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