The Federal Government has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to work with industry stakeholders to increase the importation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, to strengthen supply and improve market stability across the country.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), , disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday through his spokesperson, Louis Ibah.

According to the minister, the government remains committed to ensuring adequate and affordable gas supply for households, industries and power generation. He said marketers have agreed to increase LPG imports to complement domestic production, while supplies from a new gas facility operated by are expected to begin in July, boosting national availability.

Ekpo also stated that no LPG volumes designated for the domestic market are being exported, noting that existing regulations continue to prioritize local consumption.

He attributed the recent increase in cooking gas prices to factors such as foreign exchange volatility, rising transportation costs, infrastructure challenges and fluctuations in global LPG prices. He said these market conditions should not be interpreted as a failure of government policy.

The minister added that the government’s directive requiring locally produced LPG to be supplied first to the domestic market has strengthened supply, reduced dependence on imports and improved market resilience.

Meanwhile, data from the showed that the average price of a 5kg cooking gas refill rose by 13.73 per cent from N7,655.73 in March to N8,706.93 in April 2026. The average cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder also increased by 13.89 per cent from N19,652.83 to N22,382.20 during the same period.

The government expressed confidence that increased imports and additional domestic supply will help improve availability and support efforts to stabilize cooking gas prices nationwide.