The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has directed relevant regulatory agencies to intensify enforcement against marketers hoarding or exploiting consumers amid a sharp spike in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas.
The directive, issued on Monday through a statement signed by the minister’s spokesperson, Louis Ibah, followed public outcry over the sudden surge in prices across major cities in Nigeria.
Over the past weeks, the price of cooking gas has jumped from an average of N1,000 per kilogram to between N1,600 and N2,000/kg in some locations. In parts of Lagos, residents are paying as high as N2,080 per kg, with a 12.5kg cylinder now costing between N21,600 and N26,000. In Abuja, the same quantity averages around N20,000.
Ekpo attributed the spike to two key disruptions: the recent strike by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Dangote Refinery, which temporarily halted LPG loading, and ongoing maintenance activities at Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Train 4, which reduced supply volumes in the domestic market.
“The government is aware of the situation and is already engaging with operators to ensure quick resolution. I appeal to Nigerians for calm as the challenges are temporary and should normalise by next week,” the minister assured.
Despite the suspension of the PENGASSAN strike nearly two weeks ago, prices have remained stubbornly high, with some filling stations running out of stock while others allegedly hoard products to profit from scarcity.
Ironically, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that just a month earlier, LPG prices had been declining. The average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder dropped by 22.32 per cent, from N8,243.79 in July 2025 to N6,404.02 in August 2025.
Similarly, the average cost of a 12.5kg cylinder fell by 21.42 per cent, from N20,609.48 in July to N16,195.07 in August.
Energy economist Bala Zakka described the situation as “a clear sign of structural fragility in Nigeria’s domestic gas market.”
