The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) has continued to rise across the country despite a significant increase in its domestic production and a decline in imports, The PUNCH reports.

Data obtained from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that local production from refineries and gas processing plants accounted for the bulk of Nigeria’s LPG supply between April 2025 and April 2026, reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

However, the increased domestic supply has not translated into lower prices for consumers, with the cost of cooking gas rising to as high as N2,000 per kilogramme in some parts of the country.

According to NMDPRA data, average daily domestic LPG supply ranged between 3,300 and 4,500 tonnes throughout the period under review. In March and April 2026, local supply stood at 4,500 tonnes per day, accounting for the majority of national LPG availability.

In contrast, imports by oil marketing companies declined considerably during the period. Imported volumes fell to 200 tonnes per day in March 2026, compared with 1,600 tonnes per day in November 2025 and 1,500 tonnes per day in December 2025.

The report showed that total average daily LPG supply ranged between 4,200 tonnes and 5,200 tonnes, peaking at 5,200 tonnes per day in December 2025 before settling at 4,500 tonnes by April 2026.

The steady domestic contribution has been linked to improved output from gas processing facilities and increased refining capacity, including supplies associated with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Despite improved availability of locally produced LPG, consumers continue to grapple with rising prices and occasional shortages.

Checks by The PUNCH indicate that cooking gas, which sold for less than N1,000 per kilogramme in many locations months ago, now sells for around N2,000 per kilogramme, depending on the area.

Marketers attributed the development to supply chain challenges and scarcity in some locations, noting that the product has become difficult to source in certain neighbourhood markets.

The continued rise in LPG prices has forced many households to resort to alternative cooking fuels such as charcoal and firewood, raising concerns about the impact on clean energy adoption and environmental sustainability.

Meanwhile, NMDPRA data showed that major gas infrastructure projects designed to improve gas transportation across the country are nearing completion.

Data sourced from the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company revealed that the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline Project has reached 93.40 per cent completion, while the OB3 River Niger Crossing stands at 93.88 per cent.

The ELPS Midline Compressor Project has attained 94.45 per cent completion, while the Odidi–Warri Expansion Project is 70.28 per cent complete. The Escravos–Odidi project remains at an early stage, with 17.49 per cent completion.

NGIC described the AKK, OB3, and ELPS projects as “almost complete”, indicating that the facilities could soon boost gas transportation capacity nationwide.

It is hoped that the completion of the projects, alongside rising domestic LPG production, could further reduce import dependence and improve product availability.

However, stakeholders noted that unless distribution bottlenecks and other market challenges are addressed, increased local production alone may not be sufficient to ease the burden of high cooking gas prices on consumers.

The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to deepen domestic gas utilisation and strengthen energy security across the country.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers recently raised the alarm over erratic supply and rising LPG costs, warning that the situation could trigger scarcity and worsen hardship for millions of Nigerians.

The association said marketers currently pay between N25.2m and N26.2m for 20 metric tonnes of the product. In a statement jointly signed by the National President of NALPGAM, Edu Inyang, and the Executive Secretary, Mr Bassey Essien, the association described the development as “sad and rather very pathetic”.

“The citizens of Nigeria have woken up to buy cooking gas, which should be a social item, at a prohibitive cost of over N1,500 per kg, while the marketers are made to pay as much as N25,200,000 or, depending on the location, N26,200,000 for 20 metric tonnes of cooking gas.

“We feel that if the situation is not immediately checked, the citizens may rise against the owners of gas filling stations,” the marketers warned.

They said the development had brought untold hardship to millions of Nigerian households, small businesses, food vendors, and low-income families who rely on LPG for daily cooking and livelihood.

NALPGAM warned that the crisis was undermining years of progress achieved through federal government policies and investments aimed at deepening LPG penetration and promoting clean cooking energy.