Lagos — The cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has surged 34.6% week-on-week to N17,500 from N12,750, amid a disruption that marketers blame on a strike and supply bottlenecks. Retail checks show 1kg now sells for N1,350–N1,500, depending on location.
Speaking by phone, Olatunbosun Oladapo, National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), said the spike stems from the recent PENGASSAN industrial action, which “shut down all gas plants” and crimped availability—particularly in the South-West. “Gas is a demand-and-supply business; when supply is limited, prices rise,” he said.
Oladapo added that Dangote—described by marketers as the most reliable source on volume and price—has yet to release loading invoices to members with pending orders “for more than three weeks,” forcing marketers to source from rivals at steeper wholesale rates. “Other competitors took advantage of the challenges and the industrial action to increase prices,” he noted. With plants reluctant to sit idle, many marketers have paid up to keep cylinders flowing.
NALPGAM appealed to Dangote to “truck out product to more marketers” quickly to restore balance, expressing hope for price relief in the coming weeks if loading resumes and logistics normalize.
What’s driving prices now
- Industrial action: Temporary shutdowns tightened supply to depots and retail plants.
- Invoice delays: Marketers say pending Dangote allocations remain unreleased, pushing them to higher-cost suppliers.
- Regional pressure: The South-West has felt the sharpest squeeze, according to NALPGAM.
At a glance
- 12.5kg refill: N17,500 (from N12,750 last week)
- Per-kg retail: N1,350–N1,500 (location-dependent)
Marketers and consumers alike will be watching for a swift resumption of Dangote loadings and full post-strike ramp-up to ease the current price shock.
