Cooking gas imports rise as government addresses price surge and supply shortages

This volume contributed to the 95,769.26 metric tonnes supplied to the domestic market during the same period. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority reported these figures, presented by its Chief Executive, Rabiu Umar, at a stakeholders' meeting convened by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Gas, Ekperikpe Ekpo. Four imported LPG cargoes were discharged in Lagos, with Algasco LPG and Rainoil Limited being key importers.

Despite these efforts, consumers still face prices significantly higher than the indicative benchmarks set by the NMDPRA, with prices ranging from N1,400/kg to N2,100/kg across different regions. The NMDPRA attributes this disparity to non-cost reflective pricing by wholesalers and retailers, as well as infrastructure limitations. Umar identified domestic supply gaps, inadequate distribution infrastructure, low imports, and global market disruptions, including the US-Israel-Iran conflict, as factors affecting availability and pricing.

The authority noted that Nigeria consistently produced more LPG than it supplied domestically between January and May 2026, with significant volumes exported. Chevron, for instance, exported all 148,222 metric tonnes it produced during this period. Proposed solutions include increased imports, stricter supply chain monito