Nigerians have expressed growing concern over the recent surge in the price of cooking gas, with a kilogram now selling for as high as ₦2,000 in some parts of the country.
According to the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), the hike has little to do with any official price adjustment but stems from temporary supply disruptions and opportunistic pricing by some market players.
The association’s National President, Oladapo Olatunbosun, explained on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that the spike was caused by a shortage of supply following the recent strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which disrupted operations at the Dangote Refinery.
Olatunbosun clarified that there had been no official increment in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), describing the situation as “artificial and temporary.” He blamed some marketers for exploiting the supply gap to make excessive profits.
“I sympathise with Nigerians because we never intended to have a situation like this. Prices of cooking gas have not gone up officially. Some marketers are taking advantage of the shortage in supply and market forces that have increased demand,” he said.
He added that the disruption began when Dangote Refinery embarked on maintenance, reducing its daily loading capacity and forcing marketers to turn to Apapa depots for supply. The subsequent PENGASSAN strike further worsened the situation by halting vessel discharges and inspections, leading to dry stocks nationwide.
Channels TV reports that LPG prices, which averaged between ₦1,200 and ₦1,300 per kilogram, have in recent days risen to between ₦1,700 and ₦2,000, and in some areas, as high as ₦3,000.
Olatunbosun advised consumers to patronise registered gas plants rather than third-party sellers, warning that indirect purchases often lead to inflated prices. He assured Nigerians that NALPGAM is working with relevant authorities to restore normal supply and pricing in the coming days.
