Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has intervened in the challenges affecting the supply and pricing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, in Nigeria. According to The Nation, the move comes in response to the recent surge in the price of LPG per kilogram, rising from about N700 to over N900 in some regions.
The minister’s spokesperson, Louis Ibah, revealed in a statement that a meeting for this intervention took place at the NNPC Towers in Abuja. The gathering included top officials from Chevron Nigeria Limited, led by Sansay Narasimi, as well as the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, and the NNPCL.
Ekpo conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s concerns about the significant increase in cooking gas prices and its adverse impact on citizens. He emphasized that Nigeria, rich in gas reserves, cannot tolerate multinational firms prioritizing gas exports over domestic supply.
The minister stated, “With the exponential increase in the price of LPG, there is the need for the Federal Government to intervene, and I am representing this at this moment. We acknowledge that some producers are exporting while we are faced with the challenges of importation.”
Highlighting the public interest and the upcoming demand surge in December, Ekpo urged collaboration to ensure gas supply security. He emphasized the need for solutions to guarantee sufficient supply and stability within the country.
To address these issues, the gas minister established a committee led by the ACE of NMDPRA. The committee is tasked with presenting recommendations within a week on how to enhance supplies and reduce LPG prices.
