The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has said that the Federal Government will take all necessary measures to address the escalating cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as cooking gas.
This was disclosed by the Minister during the Decade of Gas Initiative’s event, which marked the distribution of gas cylinders to approximately 300 women in Lagos State on Monday, according to The Punch.
It was reported that the price of cooking gas, which had decreased to around N1,000 per kilogram in June and July, has now surged to N1,300 in some areas.
Additionally, the cost of refilling a 12kg cylinder has risen to N16,000 to N17,000, up from N12,000 just weeks ago.
Commenting on this development, Ekpo noted that he would invite the regulators and the gas producers to find ways to bring down the cost.
“I got that information this morning that the price of cooking gas is rising again. So, what I am going to do is I will invite the regulators and the producers and have a meeting with them. We are looking to bring down the price so that it will be affordable,” Ekpo stated.
He stated, “The energy security that we are talking about is about affordability and availability. So, we are going to ensure that whatever is the reason behind the hike in price, we will make sure we bring it down.”
Ekpo emphasized that the distribution of gas cylinders is a key component of the government’s initiative to provide access to clean cooking solutions for 1 million households by 2030.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu approved the initiative because he cares about the health of his people.
The gas minister urged the women to transition from using firewood, kerosene, and charcoal to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), highlighting its benefits as a clean, safe, and environmentally friendly option.
He also cautioned them against selling the cylinders, assuring them that gas would be available at a more affordable rate.
“Don’t worry about what is going on today, we are working with the sectors that are related to this to make sure we bring down the price. We plead with you to be patient, work with the government and the government will work for you for a better tomorrow,” he emphasised.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the cylinders and stop cooking with firewood.
Akume, represented by Professor Babatunde Bolaji, highlighted that using firewood involves cutting down trees and exposes users to harmful fumes, which can lead to health issues such as miscarriage.
The SGF also assured that the price of cooking gas would drop because the Federal Government is currently putting an end to gas flaring, saying this would give the country more gas.
The Coordinator of the Decade of Gas secretariat, Mr Ed Ebong, said 250,000 cylinders would be distributed yearly till 2030.
He noted that the Lagos event on Monday marked the launch of the LPG penetration program in the South-West, with the team scheduled to proceed to Akwa-Ibom on Tuesday.
