Cooking gas prices have shot up by about 140 per cent across Nigeria — from an average of N1,000 per kilogramme in January to as high as N2,400 per kg this week.

Marketers are now scrambling to import massive volumes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to bring prices back down. Industry sources say the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) is issuing import licences to make this happen.

The price surge is linked to a drop in supply from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, one of the country's biggest local producers. But contrary to speculation, the refinery isn't exporting the gas.

“The recent decline in LPG supply from the Dangote refinery, which has created a crisis in the domestic market, isn’t because of exports but is due to their internal utilisation for enhancing petroleum production capacity,” a source familiar with the development told The PUNCH.

The source explained that the refinery recently ramped up production to 700,000 barrels per day to meet higher global fuel demand. This internal use of LPG has starved the domestic market.

An NMDPRA official, who also spoke in confidence, said the regulator is working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and other stakeholders to boost LPG availability.

Louis Ibah, spokesman for the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, confirmed that marketers have committed to importing larger volumes.

“Marketers are stepping up their efforts and have committed to importing larger volumes of LPG, ensuring that supply meets demand in the weeks ahead for domestic consumers,” Ibah said.

Ibah added that the minister has mandated the NMDPRA to resolve supply challenges and has urged Dangote refinery to prioritise the local market.

Edu Inyang, National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, confirmed the development. He said depot owners told him they're planning to bring in enough LPG to end the scarcity.

“The depot owners have confirmed to us that they're planning to import enough LPG,” Inyang said on Monday.

Ibah dismissed claims that local producers are exporting gas. He said the Federal Government's ban on LPG exports remains in place and is strictly enforced by the NMDPRA.

“The ban on exports of LPG announced by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, is still in place to stabilise prices and is strictly enforced by the NMDPRA,” Ibah said.

He emphasised that none of the local producers are currently exporting cooking gas, and all resources are focused on making the product available for Nigerians.

  • Cooking gas price jumped from N1,000/kg in January 2026 to N2,400/kg in June 2026 — a 140% increase.
  • Dangote refinery reduced LPG supply due to internal use for ramping up to 700,000 bpd.
  • NMDPRA is issuing import licences to marketers.
  • Government ban on LPG exports remains in effect.
  • Marketers have committed to importing larger volumes to meet demand in weeks ahead.