Cooking Gas Price Surge: FG Orders Increased LPG Imports Nationwide

The Federal Government has directed marketers to increase imports of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas as part of efforts to address supply shortfalls and ease pressure on prices across the country.

The development was disclosed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah.

The minister iterated that government remains committed to ensuring adequate, reliable and affordable gas supply for households, industries and power generation despite recent increases in retail prices.

According to the statement, marketers have agreed to raise import volumes to complement domestic production while deliveries from the newly completed Seplat gas facility are expected to commence in July.

“Marketers have committed to increasing import volumes to complement domestic production,” the statement said.

Ekpo also reassured Nigerians that no producer was exporting LPG volumes allocated for domestic consumption, noting that existing regulatory measures continue to prioritise local supply.

“The outlook for LPG supply remains positive and the Federal Government will continue to pursue measures that enhance availability, affordability and long-term energy security for Nigerian consumers,” the minister said.

He attributed the recent increase in cooking gas prices to a combination of foreign exchange volatility, rising logistics costs, infrastructure challenges and fluctuations in international LPG prices.

The minister stressed that these factors should not be interpreted as evidence of policy failure, noting that government interventions have already strengthened domestic supply and reduced dependence on imports.

The statement comes amid growing concerns over rising cooking gas prices across the country.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the average retail price of a 5kg cylinder refill increased from N7,655.73 in March to N8,706.93 in April 2026, representing a month-on-month increase of 13.73 per cent.

The NBS also reported that the average price of a 12.5kg refill rose by 13.89 per cent from N19,652.83 in March to N22,382.20 in April.

On a year-on-year basis, the average price of a 5kg refill increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,855.60 recorded in April 2025, while the cost of a 12.5kg refill rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.

With additional imports and increased domestic supply expected from July, government officials say the market outlook remains positive despite current pricing pressures.