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Cooking gas price jumps to N1,500/kg

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2 years ago

October 14, 2024

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As Nigerians struggle with the high cost of petrol, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, has also increased to N1,500/kg.

But the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIPCO Plc, Suresh Kumar, said the Dangote refinery and other domestic refineries would bring down the price of cooking gas, expressing concerns that over 60 per cent of cooking gas consumed in Nigeria is being imported.

Checks by our correspondent confirmed that the prices of cooking gas peaked at N1,500/kg in some retail outlets in Ogun and Lagos States as of Sunday.

In Abuja, the average price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas has increased by 41.6 per cent to N17,000 in different areas.

The PUNCH reports that the same commodity sold for N12,000 in July and N11,735 in January 2024.

This sharp price rise reflects ongoing trends in the market and may have implications for consumers, many of whom rely on LPG for their daily cooking needs.

In August, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, promised to ensure a reduction in the rising cost of a kilogram of cooking gas.

Ekpo noted that he would invite the regulators and the gas producers to find ways to bring down the cost.

However, a new market survey conducted by our correspondent on Sunday revealed that the price has not decreased; instead, it has risen even further.

An analysis showed that the product currently sells for N17,000 in Lokogoma area of the FCT, an increase of 41.6 per cent from N12,000 vendors sold to customers three months ago. This means one kilogram of gas was sold for N1,400.

In Kubwa, the product was sold between N16,200 and N16,500 from N12,000 previously charged. But in the outskirt area of Bwari, Kurudu and Jikwoyi, the product sold for N1,300.

Some major distributors still sell the product between N1,300 and N1,400 depending on the location.

The Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State, Ola Oresanya, once told one of our correspondents that many might resort to charcoal for cooking if the price of LPG continues to rise.

However, speaking at the just-concluded National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers 2024, held in Lagos, Kumar, revealed that local production of LPG remains inadequate, urging the Federal Government to encourage Chevron to convert more of its propane output into propane.

“Currently, less than 40 per cent of the 1.5 million metric tonnes consumed domestically is produced locally. This is why the government must encourage companies like Chevron to convert more of their propane output into butane, which is more suitable for domestic use,” he explained.

Responding to questions about the rising cost of LPG amid a blend of local and imported supply, the managing director expressed optimism that prices would decline as domestic production improves, especially as the local refineries source crude oil locally.

“With the Dangote refinery and other refineries now sourcing crude oil in local currency, the volume of LPG produced locally is expected to increase, which will, in turn, drive down the price of the commodity,” the MD explained.

He added, “There is hope that the reliance on imported LPG will decrease, which will positively influence the prices at which the product is sold domestically. Greater local production will make LPG more affordable since it reduces exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations and international pricing dynamics.”

According to him, boosting local production would attract further investments in pipelines, storage, and bottling facilities, as well as expand retail outlets and LPG depots across Nigeria.

“Our latest assessments show that the existing downstream infrastructure is capable of handling up to 5 million MT annually. This means we are ready to accommodate increased production from both associated and non-associated gas fields within the country,” the MD said.

He urged the government to introduce incentives to encourage investments in gas processing.

According to him, NIPCO, which has been operational since 2004, initially entered the industry as a marketer of white products (petroleum fuels).

He, however, emphasised that the company’s long-term vision has always been to become a leader in the marketing and distribution of LPG.

Kumar said, “Our strategy was driven by the fact that Nigeria has over 200 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves. We believe that the country’s gas consumption must be optimised through the promotion of both LPG for domestic use and CNG for the industrial and transportation sector.”

He further emphasised the company’s investments in infrastructure, noting that NIPCO has expanded its LPG operations significantly over the years.

“In 2008, we invested in an LPG facility in Apapa with a capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes. Today, that same facility has grown to over 20,000 metric tonnes, thanks to strategic partnerships with our subsidiaries.

“We have also deployed LPG tankers and established multiple stations across Nigeria to ensure easy access to cooking gas for households nationwide,” Kumar revealed.

He further explained that while LPG is essential for homes, CNG will play a key role in powering industries and transforming the transportation sector.

The managing director added, “At the time NIPCO entered the market, Nigeria’s domestic LPG consumption was around 50,000 metric tonnes annually,” he stated.

“However, the past 16 to 17 years have been a remarkable journey. Today, the market has grown from 50,000 MT to approximately 1.5 million MT per year.”

Despite the growth, Kumar pointed out that significant potential remains untapped, saying less than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s 200 million population has embraced the use of LPG.

“Our vision is to harness these opportunities and grow the country’s LPG consumption from 1.5 million MT to levels more appropriate for a population of over 200 million people.

“We must work with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and other stakeholders to end gas flaring in the country. Substantial investments are needed to capture and process flared gas to increase domestic supply beyond the current 1.5 million MT to at least 5 million MT annually,” he stressed.

The NIPCO boss acknowledged that demand for LPG in Nigeria has been relatively stagnant due to the high cost of the product.

“The current high prices have limited consumption growth, but this situation is only temporary. With more players entering the gas processing sector, we anticipate a market correction soon,” he stated, believing that the market would stabilise in the long run.

He urged the Federal Government to support local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, to boost domestic gas production.

“It is crucial for the government to back these refineries in their efforts to significantly increase LPG output. This will drive down retail prices and make the product more accessible to Nigerians,” he posited.

Credit: PUNCH

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Ghost workers: Police top list as ICPC uncovers 908 across MDAs

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3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has uncovered 908 ghost workers across several federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), recovering about ₦942 million allegedly paid out through the fraudulent payroll scheme.

ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed the findings while speaking on the outcome of the commission’s investigation, according to BBC Pidgin. He explained that the probe began in 2024 after irregularities were detected in pension payments.

Aliyu said investigations revealed that some senior public officials allegedly inserted the names of relatives and associates into government payrolls and diverted the salaries for personal use.

He disclosed that one suspect allegedly enrolled his wife, son and mother-in-law as government workers while also collecting the salaries of 12 other fictitious employees.

According to him, the investigation covered at least 50 federal MDAs, with the Nigeria Police Force recording the highest number of ghost workers at 570.

He said the National Water Resources Authority had 80 ghost workers, while the Federal Ministry of Works recorded 56.

Aliyu added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had 24, the Ministry of Defence 19, while both the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment recorded 17 each.

He further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health had 15 ghost workers, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation recorded 12.

The ICPC chairman also said ghost workers were uncovered in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Interior, although he declined to disclose the figures for those institutions, noting that investigations are still ongoing.

The commission described ghost workers as individuals whose names are illegally added to government payrolls despite not being legitimate employees, allowing fraudsters to siphon public funds through fictitious salary payments.

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Ondo Speaker gets Sunday deadline to resign or face impeachment

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3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

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The crisis in the Ondo State House of Assembly remains unresolved as the majority of lawmakers have issued a Sunday ultimatum to the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, to resign from office or face impeachment.

Twenty-one of the 26 members of the House have signed an impeachment notice against the Speaker over alleged financial misconduct.

The Speaker was accused of diverting N44m from funds allocated for the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission.

Speaking with our correspondent by telephone on Wednesday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi, said the lawmakers had given the Speaker a few more days to resign, failing which he would be removed at the next plenary sitting.

He stressed that the governor had intervened in the matter but had allowed the lawmakers to carry out their legislative duties.

Fabiyi said, “We have resolved that Mr Speaker should go. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, we felt we should meet with Mr Governor.

“And we have taken the resolution of the members to Mr Governor. Because the one we did before, they were castigating us, saying somebody was sponsoring us.”

“So, to avoid that, the leadership of the House went to Mr Governor to tell him that this one is not about him. This is what Mr Speaker has done, and we don’t want him anymore. He is the one leading us, and we don’t want him to lead us again.

“Twenty-one members have signed for his removal. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, not to make it appear as if we are striking too quickly, we went to Mr Governor.

“Mr Governor requested some time. On this issue, we don’t have any problem with Mr Governor. It is about the OSOPADEC budget. A resolution was written in the name of members without our knowledge. It was stated that members had sat down and agreed to it, and that it was our resolution, which it was not.

“It is a criminal offence. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is what we are fighting for.

“So, if somebody is protecting him, it means that person is aiding and abetting him. We are giving him till Sunday. If he fails to resign, we will remove him.”

The House spokesman said the lawmakers would reconvene at the next plenary sitting to decide the Speaker’s fate.

On Monday, a member of the House, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the Speaker and his deputy had diverted N44m meant for the reordering of the budget of OSOPADEC.

He also alleged that the Speaker reordered the OSOPADEC budget without carrying other members along.

The lawmaker confirmed, “Yes, we are removing him. We just want him to resign honourably and, if he fails to do so, we will impeach him on the floor of the House. We have initiated an impeachment notice, and 21 members have already signed.

“We started the process about three weeks ago, but the governor has been talking to us, which is why we delayed it. But now, the governor has advised him to resign when we met with him. So, we are removing him.”

In his reaction, when contacted by telephone, the embattled speaker denied the allegations, saying he was not aware of any impeachment notice.

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Trump’s Letter to Tinubu Proves We’re Working – Presidency

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3 hours ago

July 23, 2026

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The Presidency has described the recent letter from United States President Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu as further evidence that the Tinubu administration is making progress, particularly in the area of security and its relationship with the United States.

Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He was reacting to Trump’s letter praising Tinubu’s leadership and anti-terrorism efforts.

Bwala said the letter reflected the growing recognition of the administration’s achievements, insisting that the government’s engagement with the United States was already producing positive results.

“Fact speaks for itself. That’s what it is. The letter is further proof of the progress we are making,” he said.

He added that the government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and improving security would continue regardless of whether such recognition was publicly expressed.

“Does it mean if there was no letter, we will stop? No. Because we are already engaging and communicating with them,” Bwala stated.

Drawing an analogy, he said, “If you are in a relationship with a lady, and then because of the relationship, you write a letter encouraging her, or she writes a letter encouraging you, then you feel further strengthened but it does not stop your commitment.”

Trump, in a letter dated July 6, 2026, commended Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and other security challenges in Nigeria. The letter was released on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In the letter, Trump thanked Tinubu for his earlier correspondence and praised his efforts to address insecurity, particularly attacks on Christian communities.

“Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me, and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people. I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities and it is a true honor to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote.

The US president also described the relationship between Nigeria and the United States as crucial at a time when conflict had spread across West Africa and other parts of the world.

“The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world. We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat,” he said.

Trump further disclosed that the United States had deployed its elite Special Operations Forces to train members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and strengthen their operational capabilities.

“I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the most elite military units anywhere in the world—to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack. I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency,” he added.

The letter comes amid expanding security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States. Last November, both countries agreed to establish a Joint Working Group co-headed by their National Security Advisers to coordinate intelligence sharing, training and joint operations against terrorist groups.

The growing partnership has coincided with recent security gains by Nigerian authorities, including the rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after 56 days in captivity. President Tinubu had praised the operation, stressing that no ransom was paid.