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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has directed regulatory agencies to clamp down on marketers hoarding or exploiting consumers following the recent sharp rise in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, on Monday, amid growing public frustration over the surge in gas prices, which have nearly doubled in parts of the country.
In several Nigerian cities, the price of cooking gas has risen from about ₦1,000 per kilogramme to as high as ₦2,000 per kilogramme, sparking outrage among households and small businesses.
The spike followed a recent strike action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Dangote Refinery. Although the strike was suspended almost two weeks ago, prices have remained high while supply shortages persist.
Ekpo, expressing deep concern over the development, appealed for calm and patience from Nigerians, assuring them that the current supply challenges were temporary and would normalise soon.
He attributed the sharp price increase to two key disruptions — the PENGASSAN strike at the Dangote Refinery and maintenance activities at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility.
“The industrial action at the Dangote Refinery temporarily halted LPG loading, while the ongoing maintenance at NLNG reduced the gas volumes available to the domestic market,” Ekpo explained.
He said these events created a supply shortfall and triggered a demand–supply imbalance, resulting in the recent surge in prices.
However, the minister disclosed that the situation was already improving as operations at both the Dangote Refinery and the NLNG facility resumed.
“Loading of LPG into the domestic market has commenced at the Dangote Refinery, and the Bonny River Terminal operated by Seplat Energy has also started operations,” he said.
According to Ekpo, normalcy will soon return to the market as the Nigeria LNG nears completion of its maintenance work and ramps up supply.
“With these developments, supply to the domestic market is expected to stabilise by next week, leading to a gradual reduction in prices,” he assured.
The minister emphasised that the LPG market remained fully deregulated, meaning prices are determined by market forces. Nonetheless, he urged marketers, depot owners, and distributors to act responsibly and avoid taking undue advantage of consumers.
“Ekpo appeals to marketers, distributors, and all stakeholders along the LPG value chain to be patriotic in their dealings, desist from hoarding, and refrain from exploiting consumers for profit,” the statement added.
To enforce compliance, the minister has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify surveillance of gas depots across the country to prevent hoarding, price manipulation, and other sharp practices that could worsen the situation.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring adequate, affordable, and accessible gas supply to Nigerian homes and businesses.
“The Federal Government remains committed to providing sufficient gas supply to households across the country, as part of its broader energy transition and affordability agenda,” Ekpo stated.
The latest surge in gas prices has added pressure to household budgets already strained by inflation, high food prices, and increased transport costs since the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023. Many Nigerians have called for stronger government action to stabilise gas prices and ensure transparent market practices.
