- Nigerians Groan As Cooking Gas Price Remains ₦1,800 Per Kg
- Officials blame refinery strike and LNG maintenance for limited supply.
- Experts warn high prices could derail clean-energy adoption in Nigeria.
Weeks after the Federal Government pledged to reduce the soaring cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, residents of Abuja say prices remain alarmingly high.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that a survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday revealed that LPG still sells for as much as ₦1,800 per kilogramme, especially among roadside retailers. The price, which previously averaged ₦1,100 per kg, surged after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) embarked on a strike action.
In response, the Federal Government directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to monitor depots and prevent hoarding. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, attributed the sharp increase to the PENGASSAN strike at the Dangote Refinery and maintenance work at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility, which limited domestic supply.
Ekpo, however, assured that supply pressures were beginning to ease. “Operations at the Dangote Refinery have resumed, with loading of LPG to the domestic market ongoing,” he said. He added that the Bonny River Terminal operated by Seplat had resumed loading, while the NLNG facility was gradually restoring production.
At retail outlets, sellers insist they cannot reduce prices yet, citing high purchase costs. “I still have old stock. When the price we buy comes down, we’ll also reduce ours,” said retailer Kingsley Paul. A major outlet in Abuja sold at ₦1,450 per kg, blaming existing stock for the continued high price.
Environmental expert Christian Chibuzor cautioned that sustained high prices could undermine Nigeria’s clean-energy transition. “If the price remains high, rural adoption of cooking gas will be difficult. The government must act decisively to make it affordable,” he said.
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