The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to address the hoarding of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and its diversion to neighbouring countries.
The engagement, held in Abuja, brought together the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force, and other critical stakeholders across the LPG value chain. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in a statement issued Monday, explained that the meeting was prompted by the recent surge in LPG prices and aimed at developing coordinated measures to enhance supply, affordability, and market stability nationwide.
Participants included government officials, regulators, producers, marketers, terminal operators, and industry associations. Discussions focused on identifying the root causes of rising LPG prices and agreeing on practical interventions to strengthen the sector.
Speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Patience Oyekunle, described LPG as a vital household energy source and a key component of Nigeria’s energy transition agenda. She stressed that escalating prices are straining household budgets and increasing the cost of essential goods, underscoring the urgency of collective action.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, noted that President Bola Tinubu is deeply concerned about the impact of rising LPG prices on citizens and has directed relevant agencies to take proactive steps. He emphasized that boosting supply must be complemented by efficient logistics, improved infrastructure, and transparent pricing mechanisms to ensure consumers benefit from government interventions.
Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Mallam Rabiu Umar, acknowledged that high landing costs remain a major driver of LPG prices but expressed optimism that ongoing measures would ease market pressures in the coming weeks. He highlighted ongoing collaboration with producers and stakeholders to increase domestic supply, strengthen oversight, and improve availability.
In a presentation, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Ogbugo Ukoha, identified infrastructure gaps, domestic supply constraints, logistics challenges, market distortions, and global supply disruptions as key factors influencing LPG pricing. He reported notable improvements, including an increase in national LPG sufficiency from 11 days to 22 days, and a rise in average daily supply from 4,262 metric tonnes in May 2026 to 5,040 metric tonnes in June 2026.
Stakeholders pledged support for government efforts while highlighting challenges in storage, transportation, distribution, and market efficiency. Agreed measures include:
Intensified market monitoring and enforcement against malpractice
Expansion of storage and distribution infrastructure
Increased domestic production capacity
Enhanced product tracking and market data access
Stronger collaboration among industry players
In his closing remarks, Minister Ekpo directed stakeholders to take immediate steps to improve supply, eliminate inefficiencies, and protect consumers. He stressed that success would be measured by increased LPG availability, improved distribution efficiency, and reduced price pressures nationwide.
