The development was revealed in a statement by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made available to Channels Television on Monday. According to the statement signed by the Minister’s Spokesman, Louis Ibah, the Minister said he had noted concerns expressed by Nigerians over the recent increase, and has reassured Nigerians that the FG remains fully committed to ensuring adequate, reliable, and affordable gas supply for households, industries, and power generation across the country.
“Marketers have committed to increasing import volumes to complement domestic production,” the statement read in part, adding that the commencement of LPG deliveries from the new Seplat gas facility in July will significantly boost national supply. READ ALSO: ‘I Remain On Deck’, Ex-IMF Chief Lagarde Dismisses Report On Plan To Resign From ECB The Minister also confirmed that no producer is exporting LPG volumes designated for the domestic market, as regulatory measures remain firmly in place to prioritise local needs.
“The outlook for LPG supply remains positive, and the Federal Government will continue to pursue measures that enhance availability, affordability, and long‑term energy security for Nigerian consumers,” the minister said. Ekpo explained that the recent hike in prices of cooking gas in the domestic were driven largely by prevailing market realities such as foreign exchange volatility, rising logistics costs, infrastructure constraints, and fluctuations in international LPG prices.
The Minister stated that the price-influencing factors should not be misinterpreted as evidence of policy failure. According to him, this commitment is reflected in ongoing interventions designed to stabilise the domestic LPG market, including the Minister’s directive that all LPG produced in Nigeria be prioritised for local consumption.
“This policy has already strengthened domestic supply, reduced dependence on imports, and improved market resilience,” he stated. The development followed a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), that the average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased from N7,655.73 recorded in March to N8,706.93 in April.