ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Despite a sharp increase in domestic production and reduced reliance on imports, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) has continued to climb across Nigeria, with consumers paying as much as N2,000 per Kg in some areas.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that local refineries and gas processing plants supplied the bulk of the country’s LPG needs between April 2025 and April 2026, significantly cutting import volumes.
The figures indicated that domestic LPG supply ranged from 3,300 to 4,500 tonnes daily during the period, with local production reaching 4,500 tonnes per day in March and April 2026, accounting for most of the product available nationwide.
Meanwhile, imports by oil marketing companies dropped sharply, falling to 200 tonnes per day in March 2026 from 1,600 tonnes in November 2025 and 1,500 tonnes in December 2025.
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Overall LPG supply fluctuated between 4,200 tonnes and 5,200 tonnes daily, peaking at 5,200 tonnes in December 2025 before declining to 4,500 tonnes by April 2026.
The sustained increase in domestic supply has been attributed to higher output from gas processing facilities and expanded refining operations, including supplies linked to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
However, the improved local production has not resulted in lower prices for consumers.
Cooking gas, which sold for below N1,000 per kilogramme in many locations a few months ago, now sells for about N2,000 per kilogramme in some areas.
Marketers blamed the rising prices on supply chain constraints and product scarcity in certain locations, saying LPG has become difficult to obtain in some neighbourhood markets.
The development has pushed many households towards alternative cooking fuels such as charcoal and firewood, raising concerns over clean energy adoption and environmental sustainability.
At the same time, major gas infrastructure projects aimed at improving gas transportation across the country are nearing completion.
According to data from the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline Project is 93.40 per cent complete, while the OB3 River Niger Crossing has reached 93.88 per cent completion.
The ELPS Midline Compressor Project stands at 94.45 per cent completion, while the Odidi–Warri Expansion Project has attained 70.28 per cent.
The Escravos–Odidi project is at 17.49 per cent completion.
NGIC described the AKK, OB3 and ELPS projects as “almost complete”, expressing optimism that they would significantly improve gas transportation capacity nationwide.
Stakeholders, however, warned that higher domestic production alone may not ease the burden on consumers unless distribution bottlenecks and other market challenges are addressed.
The situation comes amid intensified government efforts to boost domestic gas utilisation and strengthen energy security.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers recently warned of erratic supply and rising costs, saying the trend could trigger scarcity and deepen hardship for millions of Nigerians.
The association disclosed that marketers currently pay between N25.2m and N26.2m for 20 metric tonnes of LPG.
In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Mr Bassey Essien, the association described the situation as “sad and rather very pathetic”.
“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, while the marketers are made to pay as much as N25,200,000 or, depending on the location, N26,200,000 for 20 metric tonnes of cooking gas.
“We feel that if the situation is not immediately checked, the citizens may rise against the owners of gas filling stations,” the marketers warned.
They added that the rising cost of LPG had imposed severe hardship on households, food vendors, small businesses and low-income earners who depend on the product for daily cooking and livelihood, warning that the trend threatens years of progress made in promoting clean cooking energy across the country.