By Adenike Lawal
The Federal Government has ordered a clampdown on marketers hoarding Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, amid a sharp price increase across the country.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, issued the directive on Monday through his media aide, Louis Ibah, citing artificial scarcity and exploitative pricing by some marketers.
Cooking gas prices have doubled in recent weeks from about ₦1,000 to ₦2,000 per kilogram, following disruptions caused by a recent PENGASSAN strike and maintenance at the Nigeria LNG’s Train 4 facility.
Ekpo said operations have resumed at the Dangote refinery and Bonny River Terminal, with NLNG nearing completion of maintenance work.
He assured that supply would stabilise and prices begin to drop soon.
The minister also directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to intensify monitoring of gas depots nationwide, warning that hoarders and exploiters would face sanctions.
