Gas marketers in Nigeria are planning a fresh wave of large-scale imports of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, following a sharp nationwide price surge and tightening supply across major cities.
The move comes as retail prices have reportedly jumped significantly in recent weeks, with consumers in several parts of the country paying as high as about ₦1,500 to ₦2,000 per kilogram, depending on location and availability, amid worsening supply constraints and rising import costs.
Industry sources say the planned imports are aimed at stabilising the market and easing pressure on households and small businesses that have been hit hard by the persistent increase in cooking gas prices.
Marketers under industry associations have repeatedly attributed the volatility to supply disruptions, high landing costs, foreign exchange pressures, and bottlenecks in product distribution, despite Nigeria’s growing domestic LPG production capacity.
Recent industry data also shows that Nigeria still relies partly on imports to meet demand, making the market vulnerable to global price fluctuations and logistics challenges, even as domestic production accounts for the bulk of supply.
Analysts warn that if supply gaps are not quickly addressed, prices could remain elevated in the short term, forcing more consumers to consider alternative energy sources such as kerosene, charcoal, and electricity.
However, marketers insist that increased importation, improved depot distribution, and stronger regulatory oversight could help restore stability to the market in the coming weeks.
