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FG Moves Against Cooking Gas Hoarders as Prices Soar Nationwide.
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Supply expected to stabilise as Dangote and NLNG resume operations.
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Government vows to ensure affordable cooking gas for Nigerians.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has ordered regulatory authorities to clamp down on marketers hoarding Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, following the recent surge in prices across the country.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, Ekpo described the hoarding as exploitative and warned that the government would not tolerate actions that worsen the hardship faced by Nigerians.
The price of cooking gas, which averaged around ₦1,000 per kilogram, has soared to as high as ₦2,000/kg in some parts of the country. The rise has been linked to the recent strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Dangote refinery, and ongoing maintenance at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility.
Although the PENGASSAN strike was suspended about two weeks ago, supply challenges persist. Ekpo explained that the strike disrupted LPG loading at the Dangote refinery, while maintenance activities at NLNG reduced the amount of gas available in the domestic market.
He, however, assured that the situation is improving, noting that operations at the Dangote refinery and Seplat’s Bonny River Terminal have resumed, while NLNG is gradually returning to full capacity. The minister said supply is expected to stabilise by next week, leading to a gradual fall in prices.
Ekpo reiterated that the LPG market is deregulated but cautioned marketers against hoarding or exploiting consumers. He also directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify nationwide monitoring of depots to curb sharp practices.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring adequate and affordable gas supply for Nigerian households.
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