Marketers seek role in FG’s cooking gas schemes

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has called on the Federal Government to involve its members in the implementation of cooking gas penetration and cylinder recirculation initiatives to expand access to liquefied petroleum gas across the country.

The association said its members’ nationwide reach and proximity to consumers could help improve access to cooking gas, strengthen cylinder traceability and promote certified local manufacturing.

According to a statement by the association, the call followed its 2026 webinar themed ‘Downstream LPG Operational Excellence and Compliance’, which brought together industry operators, regulators and other stakeholders to discuss safety risks, market volatility, operational losses and regulatory requirements.

The National President of NALPGAM, Barrister Edu Inyang, said the industry must prioritise safety, efficiency and sustainability as Nigeria seeks to expand the use of liquefied petroleum gas.

In his opening address, Inyang said, “The future of Nigeria’s LPG industry cannot be achieved by increasing volumes alone. We must grow safely, responsibly, efficiently and sustainably. Safety is not an occasional campaign; it must become a continuous industry culture.”

According to the association, stakeholders at the webinar called for increased industry participation in the Decade of Gas LPG penetration programme as Nigeria targets annual LPG consumption of approximately five million tonnes by 2030.

NALPGAM urged regulators and programme coordinators to involve its members in implementing the initiatives, noting that their nationwide presence could support wider distribution and access to cooking gas.

The webinar also identified safety and regulatory compliance as critical to the sustainable growth of the sector, with participants urging operators to strengthen preventive maintenance, comply with licensing and incident-reporting requirements, and eliminate unsafe practices, including unauthorised propane blending and illegal decanting.

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Inyang said compliance could improve business performance while protecting investments and consumers.

“Compliance is not merely a regulatory burden; it is a business advantage. Well-managed LPG operations reduce accidents, improve efficiency, protect investments and strengthen public confidence in our industry,” he said.

The participants also highlighted the role of digital technologies, including smart filling systems, automated tank gauges, load cells, flow meters and vehicle tracking, in reducing product losses, improving accountability and strengthening operational efficiency.

They further adopted the aspiration for a “NALPGAM Standard of Operational Excellence”, based on four principles: safe and well-maintained facilities, competent and trained operators, compliant processes, and customer protection.

Reaffirming the association’s commitment to working with the government, regulators and other industry stakeholders, Inyang said, “Our aspiration is clear: every LPG facility must be safe and properly maintained, every operator competent and adequately trained, every process compliant, and every customer protected. This is the standard of operational excellence we must collectively pursue.”