The Federal Government said it has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify engagement with gas producers, marketers, and other stakeholders to boost importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, to sustain supply and enhance market stability nationwide.

The development was revealed in a statement by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made available to Channels Television on Monday.

According to the statement signed by the Minister’s Spokesman, Louis Ibah, the Minister said he had noted concerns expressed by Nigerians over the recent increase, and has reassured Nigerians that the FG remains fully committed to ensuring adequate, reliable, and affordable gas supply for households, industries, and power generation across the country.

“Marketers have committed to increasing import volumes to complement domestic production,” the statement read in part, adding that the commencement of LPG deliveries from the new Seplat gas facility in July will significantly boost national supply.

The Minister also confirmed that no producer is exporting LPG volumes designated for the domestic market, as regulatory measures remain firmly in place to prioritise local needs.

“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,” the minister said.

Ekpo explained that the recent hike in prices of cooking gas in the domestic were driven largely by prevailing market realities such as foreign exchange volatility, rising logistics costs, infrastructure constraints, and fluctuations in international LPG prices.

The Minister stated that the price-influencing factors should not be misinterpreted as evidence of policy failure.

According to him, this commitment is reflected in ongoing interventions designed to stabilise the domestic LPG market, including the Minister’s directive that all LPG produced in Nigeria be prioritised for local consumption.

“This policy has already strengthened domestic supply, reduced dependence on imports, and improved market resilience,” he stated.

The development followed a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), that the average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased from N7,655.73 recorded in March to N8,706.93 in April.

The NBS said in its Cooking Gas Price Watch for April released in Abuja, that the April price represented a 13.73 per cent increase, compared to what was obtained in March.

According to the report, average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased on a year-on-year basis by 10.42 per cent from N7,855.60 recorded in April 2025.

It also said that the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N19,652.83 in March 2026 to N22,382.20 in April 2026.

“While on a year-on-year basis, the average retail price for 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06 in April 2025.” (Channels TV)

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