The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources has conscripted the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police Force to address the hoarding and diversion of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, to neighbouring countries.
A statement by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday stated that the move followed the recent increase in LPG (cooking gas) prices and developed coordinated measures to improve supply, affordability, and market stability across the country.
Business Post reports that in recent weeks, prices of the fuel have gone as high as N2,400 per kg in some areas in Lagos and Ogun State, but have since dropped to around N1,900 and N2,000 in the last few days.
In a statement by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Monday, the meeting also brought together other key government officials, regulators, producers, marketers, terminal operators, and industry associations to examine factors contributing to rising LPG prices and agree on practical interventions to strengthen the value chain.
Speaking at the engagement, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Patience Oyekunle, described LPG as a critical energy source for households and an important component of Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
She noted that rising LPG prices are putting additional pressure on household budgets and increasing the cost of essential goods, stressing the need for collective action to improve access to affordable cooking gas.
While speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated that President Bola Tinubu is concerned about the impact of rising LPG prices on Nigerians and has directed relevant agencies to take proactive steps to address the situation.
He emphasised that increased supply must be supported by efficient logistics, improved infrastructure, and transparent pricing mechanisms to ensure consumers benefit from interventions across the sector.
The chief executive of the NMDPRA, Mr Rabiu Umar, noted that high landing costs continue to influence cooking gas prices but expressed optimism that ongoing measures across the value chain would begin to ease market pressures in the coming weeks.
He added that the authority is working with producers and other stakeholders to increase domestic supply, strengthen market oversight, and support interventions that will improve availability.