The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has accused gas marketers of inflating cooking gas prices, despite lower pricing benchmarks issued by the regulator.
The agency said many Nigerians are currently paying between N1,400 and N2,100 per kilogram for cooking gas across different parts of the country, far above the official indicative prices.
According to the regulator, the rising cost is being driven by what it described as non-cost reflective pricing, with wholesalers and retailers charging significantly more than expected.
Speaking at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting on the rising cost of LPG, NMDPRA disclosed that consumers in the South-West are paying as much as N2,100 per kilogram, even though the regulator’s benchmark ranges between N1,018 and N1,177 per kilogram.
The authority also pointed to supply challenges, infrastructure limitations and the activities of middlemen as factors worsening the situation.
Adding to the concern, NMDPRA revealed that a large portion of locally produced cooking gas is being exported instead of serving the domestic market.
The regulator disclosed that Chevron Nigeria Limited exported all 148,222 metric tonnes of LPG it produced between January and May 2026, contributing to supply pressure within the country.
The agency further reported that Nigeria recorded an LPG supply shortfall of 91,966 metric tonnes between January and June 2026, with demand continuing to outpace supply.
Officials warned that the deficit could increase in the coming months if urgent measures are not taken to improve supply and distribution.
To address the problem, NMDPRA said it has begun enforcement actions, audits and new interventions aimed at boosting domestic supply, improving product tracking and expanding gas infrastructure nationwide.
The regulator also expressed optimism that additional volumes from the Anoh Gas Processing Plant could help improve supply from July 2026.
Source: NMDPRA
