Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) marketers imported 16,642.66 metric
tonnes of LPG within the first 19 days of June as part of efforts to bridge
domestic supply shortages and ease pressure on consumers facing rising prices.
The import volumes formed a significant part of the 95,769.26 metric tonnes of
LPG supplied into the domestic market between June 1 and June 19, according
to figures released on Monday by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream
Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The data was presented by the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Rabiu Umar,
during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of State
for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, over the persistent rise in LPG
prices across the country.
The figures showed that four imported LPG cargoes were discharged in Lagos
during the review period. Algasco LPG imported 2,047 metric tonnes on June 1,
while Rainoil Limited brought in 7,696.45 metric tonnes on June 15. Algasco
later discharged another 3,900.63 metric tonnes on June 18 and 2,998.58 metric
tonnes on June 19.
The imports came amid concerns that domestic supply has remained insufficient
to meet growing demand, forcing marketers to increasingly rely on foreign
sources. In recent weeks, retailers and consumers reported difficulties accessing
supplies, while prices continued to rise. Nigerians also complained that the
product was unavailable at some retail outlets, forcing many households to
resort to charcoal and firewood for cooking.
However, the Federal Government’s intervention in the LPG market appears to
be yielding results. According to the NMDPRA, average daily cooking gas
supply rose to 5,040 metric tonnes in June from 4,262 metric tonnes recorded in
May 2026.
“Average daily supply in June, up to June 19, is 5,040 metric tonnes per day.
This is an improvement from the 4,262 metric tonnes per day recorded in May
2026. It has also improved sufficiency up to 22 days,” Umar stated.
The regulator disclosed that the country’s LPG stock position stood at 85.87
million kilogrammes as of June 21, representing 22.08 days of sufficiency. It
added that supply coverage had improved from 11 days to 22 days following
engagements with producers, terminal operators and marketers.
“Stakeholders’ engagements have been convened involving terminal operators,
domestic producers and other suppliers. Following these engagements, supply
has improved from 11 days to 22 days of sufficiency. Profiteering by marketers
is being addressed,” Umar said.
Despite the improvement, the NMDPRA noted that consumers continue to pay
well above its indicative pricing benchmarks. Cooking gas sells for between
N1,600/kg and N2,100/kg in the South-West despite an indicative range of
N1,018/kg to N1,177/kg.
In the North-Central, prices range from N1,550/kg to N1,950/kg against a
benchmark of N1,066/kg to N1,224/kg, while consumers in the South-South
pay between N1,400/kg and N2,000/kg compared with an official guide of
N1,021/kg to N1,179/kg.
The authority attributed the disparity to “non-cost reflective pricing” by
wholesalers and retailers, as well as infrastructure constraints affecting
distribution.
Umar identified a domestic supply gap, inadequate distribution infrastructure,
low imports and global market disruptions as key factors affecting availability
and pricing.
He said, “There is a domestic supply gap created by the incomplete
domestication of local production. We also have an inadequate LPG
infrastructure for distribution. Low LPG imports, global supply disruptions and
price volatilities arising from the US-Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East are
impacting supply and pricing.”
The regulator’s analysis showed that Nigeria consistently produced more LPG
than was supplied to the domestic market between January and May 2026, with
significant volumes exported as LPG or propane. While production averaged
between 5,190 metric tonnes and 6,451 metric tonnes per day during the period,
domestic supply lagged behind.