Nigeria FG Orders Marketers To Increase Cooking Gas Imports To Address Shortfall Nationwide
Adedokun Waliyu
2 min read
The Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify engagement with gas producers, marketers, and other stakeholders to increase the importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, to sustain supply and improve market stability across the country.
The directive was disclosed in a statement by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.
According to the statement, the minister acknowledged concerns expressed by Nigerians over the recent increase in cooking gas prices and reassured citizens that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring adequate, reliable, and affordable gas supply for households, industries, and power generation nationwide.
“Marketers have committed to increasing import volumes to complement domestic production,” the statement said, adding that the commencement of LPG deliveries from the new Seplat gas facility in July is expected to significantly boost national supply.
The minister also confirmed that no producer is exporting LPG volumes designated for the domestic market, stressing that regulatory measures remain in place to prioritise local consumption.
“The outlook for LPG supply remains positive, and the Federal Government will continue to pursue measures that enhance availability, affordability, and long-term energy security for Nigerian consumers,” Ekpo said.
He explained that the recent increase in cooking gas prices was driven mainly by prevailing market conditions, including foreign exchange volatility, rising logistics costs, infrastructure constraints, and fluctuations in international LPG prices.
Ekpo stated that these price increases should not be interpreted as evidence of policy failure.
According to him, the government’s commitment is reflected in ongoing interventions to stabilise the domestic LPG market, including the directive that all LPG produced in Nigeria should be prioritised for local consumption.
“This policy has already strengthened domestic supply, reduced dependence on imports, and improved market resilience,” he said.
The development follows a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which showed that the average retail price of a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas rose from ₦7,655.73 in March to ₦8,706.93 in April 2026.
The NBS said this represented a 13.73% month-on-month increase and a 10.42% increase compared to the ₦7,855.60 recorded in April 2025.
The report also stated that the average retail price of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder increased by 13.89% from ₦19,652.83 in March 2026 to ₦22,382.20 in April 2026.
On a year-on-year basis, the average price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder increased by 10.43%, from ₦20,268.06 in April 2025.
