The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has attributed the recent surge in cooking gas prices across the country to the manipulative activities of middlemen, describing the current hike as “artificially induced.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, the National President of NALPGAM, Oladapo Olatunbosun, clarified that there has been no official increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by producers or regulators.
Marketers Accused of Exploiting Supply Shortages
Olatunbosun noted that some dealers are exploiting temporary shortages in gas supply to inflate prices for personal gain.
“I must say it categorically that prices of cooking gas have not gone up. No increment has been done officially,” he stated.
“What is happening is that some marketers are taking advantage of the shortage in supply and the market forces that have increased demand. They are cashing up to make good money, which is wrong.”
He expressed concern that these unregulated practices have worsened the financial strain on Nigerians, promising that normalcy will return within a few days as supply stabilizes.
Background: Price Surge Amid Industrial Dispute
Naija Blog reports that cooking gas prices recently skyrocketed nationwide, with refilling costs rising from around ₦1,700–₦2,000 per kilogram to as high as ₦3,000 in some areas.
The development followed an industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, which disrupted supply chains and triggered panic buying.
Olatunbosun, however, appealed for calm, assuring Nigerians that the association is working closely with relevant authorities to restore steady distribution and discourage profiteering.
“I sympathise with Nigerians as the President of NALPGAM because we never intended to have a situation like this,” he said. “By the grace of God, normalcy will return in the next few days.”