Cooking gas prices jump up to 7.3% at Nigerian depots as FG expands free cylinder scheme
By Aboki Forex —
Cooking gas prices have risen by as much as 7.3% across major depots in Lagos, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri, adding fresh pressure on households. The increase comes even as the Federal Government pushes a programme to distribute free LPG cylinders to one million households.
Depot prices rise
Industry data shows several major facilities raised their prices. 11Plc lifted its LPG price by N70 per kilogramme to N1,020, a 7.3% increase. NAGAS went up by N30 to N980 per kilogramme. Ardova Plc, also known as AP, added N45 to sell at N985 per kilogramme. NIPCO Lagos increased its price by N70 to N1,020 per kilogramme.
Dangote Refinery still has the lowest depot price among tracked facilities, with LPG selling at N935 per kilogramme, according to PetroleumPriceNG data. The gap between depots reflects the continued volatility in Nigeria's downstream petroleum market, where supply conditions, logistics costs and changing demand shape what consumers pay.
FG's free cylinder programme
The price movement comes alongside a government intervention aimed at getting more households to use cleaner cooking fuel. The Federal Government's LPG programme targets at least one million households with free cylinders and refills. It was launched in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where about 27,000 LPG cylinders were distributed in the initial rollout.
The initiative is meant to reduce the financial barrier for low-income families switching from firewood, kerosene and other traditional fuels to LPG. Industry stakeholders say expanding the programme nationwide could provide relief while supporting the government's clean cooking goals.
Demand up, supply down
The latest price increase also comes as LPG demand rises across Nigeria. A recent fact sheet from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed LPG consumption increased in July. But the agency also reported a decline in supply during the same period, raising concerns that continued supply constraints could trigger further price increases or shortages.
Stronger demand and weaker supply could put extra pressure on the market in the coming weeks.
What it means for consumers
The depot increases could eventually translate into higher retail prices, especially if distributors pass extra costs down the supply chain. Bassey Essien, executive secretary and CEO of the Nigeria Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), said cooking gas is a logistics-heavy commodity, and the cost structure between the supply point and the end consumer is far more complex than most buyers realise.
While the Federal Government's free cylinder and refill programme may offer relief to selected households, millions of other Nigerian families remain exposed to LPG price movements. The situation is a mixed one: government intervention is expanding access to cooking gas, but rising depot prices and supply concerns continue to threaten affordability across the country.