FG Holds Emergency Meeting Over Cooking Gas Price Surge Amid Nationwide Concern

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Government has convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to address the recent surge in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, amid growing concerns over its impact on households and the broader economy.

The meeting brought together key players in the energy sector, including government officials, regulators, producers, marketers, terminal operators and industry associations, to review the underlying factors driving the persistent increase in LPG prices.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Patience Oyekunle, described cooking gas as a vital household energy source and a central component of Nigeria’s energy transition plan, noting that the rising cost was placing significant strain on household budgets and contributing to inflationary pressure on essential commodities.

Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said President Bola Tinubu had expressed concern over the situation and directed relevant agencies to take urgent and proactive steps to stabilise prices and protect consumers from further hardship. He stressed that improved supply must be supported by efficient logistics, better infrastructure and transparent pricing mechanisms to ensure that interventions translate into relief for end users.

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Umar, identified high landing costs as a key driver of the price increase but expressed optimism that coordinated efforts across the value chain would ease pressure on the market in the coming weeks. He added that the authority was working closely with stakeholders to boost domestic supply, strengthen regulatory oversight and improve product availability nationwide.