Cooking Gas Crisis Worsens as Nigeria Exports 62% of Production
By Aboki Forex —
Nigeria is facing a severe shortage of cooking gas despite holding Africa’s largest proven gas reserves. A new report shows that 62% of the country’s gas output in the first two months of 2026 was exported, leaving only 38% for local use.
Demand Outpaces Supply
Demand for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has risen to 1.8 million metric tonnes in 2026, up 20% from 1.5 million metric tonnes in 2023. But domestic supply is stuck between 1.55 million and 1.65 million metric tonnes, creating a supply gap. Industry experts say the export-driven model that worked when LPG usage was low is no longer sustainable.
Prices Jump 335% in a Decade
The shortage has pushed prices through the roof. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows the average price of cooking gas rose from N400 per kilogramme in 2016 to N2,000 per kilogramme in 2026. That is a 335% increase. The price climbed steadily: N500 in 2017, N600 in 2018, N680 in 2019, N800 in 2020, N950 in 2021, N900 in 2022, N1,000 in 2023, N1,450 in 2024, N1,630 in 2025, and N2,000 in 2026.
Production Boost Not Enough
Major producers including NLNG, Dangote Refinery, Kwale Hydrocarbon, NPDC Ologbo, Pan Ocean, Seplat, PNG Gas and Greenville have increased output. But stakeholders say more investment is needed in gas-processing plants, storage tanks, and distribution networks. They insist Nigeria can achieve near self-sufficiency if policies encourage domestic supply.
Analysts warn that without faster investment in gas infrastructure and stronger incentives for local supply, millions of Nigerians will continue to face shortages and high prices despite the nation’s vast gas wealth.