FG targets 10 million households with cooking gas as grassroots LPG rollout reaches Akwa Ibom
By Aboki Forex —
The Federal Government has launched its National Grassroots LPG Penetration Programme in Akwa Ibom State, moving closer to its target of providing cooking gas access to more than 10 million Nigerian households by 2060. Akwa Ibom is the second state to benefit from the nationwide rollout after Bayelsa State.
The programme, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) in partnership with the Decade of Gas Initiative, targets one million households annually and five million homes by 2030. It also includes the distribution of 27,000 filled LPG cylinders to women in Akwa Ibom State.
Minister unveils plan
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the programme would provide LPG access to one million households every year. He added that five million homes are expected to benefit by 2030 and more than 10 million by 2060.
In a statement issued on Friday, Ekpo urged governments, regulators, financial institutions, energy companies, development organisations, traditional rulers, communities and the media to support the initiative. He said the programme reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to using Nigeria’s abundant gas resources to improve living standards through cleaner cooking, healthier households, women’s empowerment, job creation and stronger local economies.
Cylinders, refills and digital tracking
The Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Ed Ubong, disclosed that 27,000 filled LPG cylinders would be distributed to women across Akwa Ibom State. He said the programme would eventually cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as part of the government’s broader clean cooking strategy.
The Decade of Gas NGLPP Programme Lead, Ramatu Abdullahi, explained that the state-by-state rollout uses a Depot–Hub–Node cylinder exchange system designed to make LPG refills more accessible. Refill points will be located within one to two kilometres of participating communities. Beneficiaries will also receive up to six free refills, while a digital platform will monitor cylinder movements, refills and household adoption.
Representing the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Rabiu Umar, the agency’s Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure, Francis Ogaree, praised the initiative. Ogaree identified the cylinder recirculation system, free refill support and barcode-based tracking as important measures for ensuring transparency and sustainability. He noted that the annual target of one million households and the goal of reaching five million homes by 2030 align with Nigeria’s ambition to raise domestic LPG consumption to five million metric tonnes annually by 2030.
What it means for Nigerian households
The programme aims to shift more Nigerian homes from polluting cooking fuels to cleaner gas, cutting health risks and supporting local energy use. If the rollout stays on track, it could boost demand for LPG and strengthen the domestic gas value chain, with more refill points bringing cooking gas closer to communities across the country.