The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has directed a nationwide clampdown on marketers hoarding or exploiting consumers amid the recent surge in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices. The announcement was made in a statement signed by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, on Monday.
Recalls that LPG prices recently rose from an average of N1,000 per kilogramme to about N2,000/kg in some areas, following the strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Dangote refinery. Almost two weeks after the strike was suspended, prices remained high while supply scarcity persisted.
Ekpo, expressing concern over the situation, appealed for patience from Nigerians, assuring that normalcy would return by next week. He attributed the price hike to two main factors: the industrial action at the Dangote refinery and ongoing maintenance at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility. “The strike temporarily halted LPG loading, while maintenance reduced the volume of gas available in the domestic market,” he explained. “These disruptions caused a shortfall in supply and a consequent increase in prices due to a demand–supply imbalance.”
The minister noted that supply was gradually stabilising. Operations had resumed at the Dangote refinery, with LPG loading to the domestic market underway. The Bonny River Terminal, operated by Seplat Energy, had also recommenced loading, while NLNG was nearing the completion of maintenance. “With these developments, supply to the domestic market is expected to stabilise by next week, leading to a gradual reduction in prices,” Ekpo said.
Reiterating that the LPG market is deregulated, the minister called on marketers, distributors, and stakeholders along the gas value chain to act patriotically, refrain from hoarding, and avoid exploiting consumers. To ensure compliance, he directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify monitoring of LPG depots nationwide.
Ekpo reassured Nigerians that the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring sufficient and affordable gas supply for households across the country, urging cooperation from all industry players to prevent further disruptions.
