The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has expressed strong support for the Dangote Refinery’s plan to reduce the cost of cooking gas in Nigeria, calling it a major step toward making cleaner energy more accessible to poor households.

NALPGAM President, Oladapo Olatunbosun, said the association has long pushed for lower LPG prices, arguing that cheaper gas would help reduce the heavy reliance on firewood, especially in rural communities.

During a recent tour of his refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Aliko Dangote noted that although Nigeria is gradually embracing LPG, the current prices are too high for the average citizen. He said the refinery produces about 2,000 tonnes of LPG daily and is working to bring down the price.

“If the distributors don’t reduce their prices, we’ll bypass them and sell directly to retailers so that more people can afford to switch from firewood or kerosene to gas,” Dangote said.

While some industry players worry the move might edge out smaller businesses, Olatunbosun believes the plan will benefit consumers in the long run. He admitted that operators who invested in gas facilities using long-term loans might feel threatened, but emphasized that the market is big enough to accommodate everyone.

He explained that Dangote’s direct-sale strategy isn’t meant to exclude retailers but to eliminate unnecessary middlemen who drive up the cost of LPG.

“The goal is to supply gas directly to retail dealers and gas plant owners, helping to lower the final price paid by consumers,” he said.

Olatunbosun stressed that the current gas price of around N1,000 per kilogram is unaffordable for many Nigerians, particularly those in villages. He said NALPGAM had appealed to Dangote to consider a price drop that would bring low-income earners into the gas market.

He praised Dangote for being sensitive to the needs of the poor and taking action that aligns with the association’s advocacy for affordable and clean energy.