Liquefied Petroleum Gas retailers have raised concerns over persistent supply shortages across Nigeria, saying recent LPG imports have failed to ease scarcity as prices continue to rise and consumers struggle with increasing energy costs.
The Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Association of Nigeria, Ayobami Olarinoye, said supply improved slightly after an LPG shipment arrived in late May, but access to products remains difficult for marketers and retailers. He noted that many retailers are still unable to obtain sufficient stock from plant operators despite the fresh imports.
Olarinoye disclosed that another LPG vessel arrived in the country on June 3, but alleged that the cargo was being reserved for the owner’s retail outlets rather than being distributed across the wider market. According to him, the situation has worsened supply challenges and limited access to products for independent marketers.
He explained that only a few gas plants currently have products available for sale, making it increasingly difficult for retailers to restock. Many operators located in residential areas, he said, now prefer to sell directly to consumers instead of supplying retailers, further tightening availability in the market.
The retailers’ association also blamed part of the problem on the export of locally produced LPG. Olarinoye said some refiners prefer selling products to neighbouring West African countries in foreign currency because it is more profitable than selling within Nigeria.
The supply challenges have pushed prices higher across the country, with some neighbourhood retailers selling cooking gas for as much as N2,400 per kilogramme. A market survey showed that while some filling stations sold LPG between N1,650 and N1,700 per kilogramme, many smaller retailers charged significantly higher rates due to transportation and operating costs.
Consumers in Lagos, Ogun, Kwara and other states said the rising cost of cooking gas has forced many households to abandon LPG and return to alternatives such as charcoal and coal pots. Retailers and marketers have urged the Federal Government to provide incentives for more investors, discourage product hoarding and strengthen local supply to prevent further scarcity and price increases.
