The Nigerians complain about another increase in the price of gas for cooking, and now a kilogram is sold to up to 2,000 pounds sterling (and in some places up to 3,000 pounds sterling), which generates a generalized concern about the cost of living.
But gas marketers say that the situation is not the result of any official price adjustment.
Speaking on Wednesday in The Morning Brief of Channels Television, the national president of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketors (Nalpgam), Oladapo Olatunbosun, attributed the increase in prices to temporary interruptions of the supply and the exploitation of the market by opportunistic distributors.
Also read: Why the price of gas for cooking is increasing – NNPC
“As president of Nalpgam, I sympathize with the Nigerians because we never had the intention of having a situation like this.
“I must categorically say that the price of gas for cooking has not risen, no increase has been officially increased.
“What is happening is that some marketing specialists are taking advantage of the shortage of supply and market forces that have increased demand. They are taking advantage to earn fast money, which is wrong,” said Olatunbosun.
He assured that the situation is artificial and temporary, and that it is expected to return to normal in a few days.
Channels TV had previously reported that LPG prices, which averaged between 1,200 and 1,300 pounds per kilogram, had recently increased to between 1,700 and 2,000 pounds, depending on the location.
According to Olatunbosun, the problem began when the Dangote refinery, a key actor in improving local supply, embarked on a maintenance that slowed the load load, creating a deficit in the distribution.
“Before the strike, Dangote carried about 50 trucks per day, which served the southwest and some northern parts. But when the renewal began, the trucks began to pass up to 14 days in the refinery courtyard before receiving the products.
“Then, the marketers changed to APAPA to obtain supply, and when the Pengassan strike, ship downloads and inspections were interrupted, exhausting stocks throughout the country.”
He explained that, although the Dangote refinery did not stop production completely, the strike prevented inspectors from authorizing the discharge of ships, which caused a delay that seriously affected the supply throughout the country, especially in the southwest, which consumes the highest volume of LPG in Nigeria.
Olatunbosun revealed that Nigeria’s LPG consumption had increased by 1.2 million metric tons three years ago to almost two million metric tons, which makes the market more sensitive to disturbances.
To cushion the impact, he advised consumers to buy directly on registered gas plants, warning that those who buy through intermediaries would probably pay inflated prices.
“If you buy a third or room, the chain extends and the price goes up, just like buying gasoline from black market vendors.
“In gas bottling plants operated by our partners, the price ranges between 1,000 and 1,300 pesos, depending on the area and the cost of transport,” he said.
He added that before the recent interruption, prices were as low as ₦ 950 to ₦ 1,050 in some areas, which guarantees that the offer and prices will be stabilized soon.
“We are working with the relevant authorities to guarantee a stable supply and normal prices in the next few days,” concluded Olatunbosun..
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