The Federal Government has ordered the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to intensify inspections of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) depots nationwide to prevent hoarding and profiteering, amid public concern over rising cooking gas prices.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, issued the directive in a statement by his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, warning marketers and distributors against practices capable of undermining recent improvements in supply.
Ekpo acknowledged the anxiety among Nigerians over the recent surge in LPG prices but urged the public to remain calm, assuring that market conditions would stabilise soon.
He attributed the earlier price hike to industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Dangote Refinery, which briefly disrupted LPG loading, as well as ongoing maintenance at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility that limited domestic supply.
According to the Minister, operations at the Dangote Refinery have resumed, with LPG now being dispatched to the local market.
He added that the Bonny River Terminal operated by Seplat Energy had begun loading, while the NLNG is gradually returning to full operational capacity as maintenance winds down.
Reiterating the government's commitment to affordable energy, Ekpo appealed to stakeholders in the gas sector to act responsibly, desist from hoarding, and avoid exploiting consumers for profit.
He stressed that the LPG market remains regulated and that enforcement measures will be strengthened to protect households nationwide.
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