Nigerians are reeling under yet another surge in the price of cooking gas, with the cost of a kilogram now reaching between ₦2,000 and ₦3,000 in some areas, sparking fresh concerns over the rising cost of living.

However, gas marketers say the increase is not due to any official price adjustment but rather to temporary supply disruptions and market exploitation by opportunistic dealers.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Oladapo Olatunbosun, sympathised with Nigerians over the situation.

 “I sympathise with Nigerians as the President of NALPGAM because we never intended to have a situation like this.

I must say categorically that the price of cooking gas has not gone up officially.

What is happening is that some marketers are taking advantage of the shortage in supply and market forces to make quick money, which is wrong,” Olatunbosun said.

He explained that the price hike is artificial and temporary, assuring consumers that normalcy would return soon.

According to him, the problem began when the Dangote Refinery, one of the key players in improving local LPG supply, embarked on maintenance activities that slowed truck loading operations.

 “Before the strike, Dangote loaded about 50 trucks per day, serving the South-West and parts of the North. But during the maintenance period, trucks began spending up to 14 days at the refinery yard before getting products.

When the PENGASSAN strike hit, vessel discharges and inspections were disrupted, drying up stocks nationwide,” he explained.

Although the refinery did not completely halt production, the strike reportedly prevented inspectors from clearing vessels, creating a backlog that disrupted distribution, especially in the South-West, Nigeria’s largest LPG market.

Olatunbosun noted that Nigeria’s LPG consumption has grown significantly, rising from 1.2 million metric tonnes three years ago to nearly two million metric tonnes, making the market more sensitive to supply shocks.

He advised consumers to buy directly from registered gas bottling plants to avoid inflated prices from middlemen.

 “If you buy from a third or fourth party, the chain extends and the price rises, just like buying petrol from black market vendors. At plants operated by our members, the price is between ₦1,000 and ₦1,300 per kilogram, depending on location and transport cost,” he said.

He added that before the recent disruptions, prices were as low as ₦950 to ₦1,050, and assured that the association is working with authorities to restore steady supply and normal pricing in the coming days.

“We are working with relevant authorities to ensure steady supply and normal pricing soon,” Olatunbosun concluded.