The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has attributed the recent surge in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, to the temporary disruption caused by an industrial strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Speaking to State House correspondents on Sunday after a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, said the industrial action disrupted gas loading and distribution for several days, creating a short-term supply gap.
According to him, the strike led to a delay in the movement of gas products across the country, which in turn triggered a temporary increase in retail prices.
“The increase you saw was relatively artificial,” Ojulari explained. “During the strike, movement and loading were delayed by about two to three days. As things return to normal, it takes some time for distribution to stabilize. Unfortunately, some people took advantage of the situation to hike prices.”
Checks across major cities show that the price of cooking gas currently stands at around ₦2,000 per kilogram in Lagos and ₦1,600 per kilogram in Abuja, reflecting a sharp rise from previous weeks.
Ojulari, however, assured Nigerians that the price hike is temporary and that the market will soon stabilize as distribution fully resumes nationwide.
He also noted that the NNPC is working closely with stakeholders to ensure consistent supply and prevent future disruptions.
The PENGASSAN strike, which was triggered by the dismissal of Nigerian workers at the Dangote Refinery, was called off on October 1 following government intervention and an agreement to redeploy the affected employees.
