Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, has assured Nigerians that the government remains committed to maintaining adequate, reliable and affordable gas supply for domestic consumers, industries and power generation.
The minister disclosed that LPG marketers have committed to increasing import volumes to complement local production and ease pressure on the market.
“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.
The minister said that deliveries from the new Seplat gas facility expected to commence in July would significantly improve national LPG availability.
He also clarified that producers are not exporting LPG volumes designated for domestic consumption, stressing that regulatory measures remain in place to prioritise Nigerian demand.
Ekpo said that ongoing government interventions, including the directive that locally produced LPG should first serve the domestic market, have helped strengthen supply and reduce import dependency.
“This policy has already strengthened domestic supply, reduced dependence on imports, and improved market resilience,” he stated.
According to the statement, the Federal Government of Nigeria has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify engagement with gas producers, marketers and other industry stakeholders to increase Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) imports and stabilise supply across Nigeria.
The move comes amid rising cooking gas prices, with households and businesses facing increased costs due to foreign exchange volatility, logistics challenges, infrastructure limitations and fluctuations in global LPG prices.
The government’s intervention follows recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing continued increases in LPG prices.
The NBS reported that the average retail price of a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas rose from ₦7,655.73 in March 2026 to ₦8,706.93 in April 2026, representing a 13.73 per cent monthly increase.
GIK/APA