Nigeria’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) sector recorded a historic shift in 2025. For the first time, domestic suppliers provided the vast majority of the country’s LPG, also known as cooking gas, with imports falling to less than 20 per cent of the total supply.
Data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) shows that domestic sources, including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), the Dangote Refinery, and other gas processing facilities dominated supply of cooking gas in the country, marking a significant departure from the era of reliance on imports.
Pinnace Daily analysis of the NMDPRA data on total daily supply of LPG shows 52,900 metric tonnes of LPG between January and December 2025. Out of this, only7,100 metric tonnes (13.4 per cent) were supplied through imports, while 45,800 metric tonnes (86.7 per cent) came from domestic sources.
This shift marks a radical departure from 2024, when the country relied on imports for nearly 60 per cent of its cooking gas needs.
The data showed that while there were notable fluctuations across the 12 months of the year, supply from domestic sources maintained the lead, with a monthly average daily supply of 3,816.67 metric tonnes against 591.67 metric tonnes for imports.
Although domestic production remained high, the data showed that the daily supply of LPG via imports rose in November to 1,600 metric tonnes before dropping slightly to 1,500 metric tonnes in December 2025.
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In some months, like March and July, there was zero import of cooking gas. Output from domestic sources peaked in July and August when it reached 4,500 and 4,400 metric tonnes per day, respectively.
In December, the average daily supply was 5,200 metric tonnes, out of which 3,700 metric tonnes were sourced from domestic sources, while 1,500 came from imports. This means domestic supply accounted for 71 per cent, while 29 per cent came from imports. Average daily consumption of LPG in December 2025 was about 4,380 metric tonnes per day, while retail prices during the period ranged from ₦1,120 to ₦1,600 per kilogram, depending on location and market conditions.
Why Domestic Supply of LPG Surged in 2025
The NMDPRA data also showed strong upstream gas performance, which aided LPG supply expansion. NLNG Trains 1-6 had a total design capacity of 3.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscf/d) and operated at an average utilisation rate of 82.67 percent.
Also, a strong output came from the Gbaran-Ubie Gas Plant, which recorded an 86.36 per cent utilisation rate against its installed capacity of 1.250 Bscf/d. Additional supply came from MPNU BRT, Escravos Gas Plant, and Soku Gas Plant.
Industry experts also attribute the surge in domestic supply of cooking gas to the coming on stream of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This is coupled with the increasing capacity of other local gas processing plants, including NLNG. The $20 billion facility has continued to ramp up production.
Industry data confirms that the refinery is currently the largest inland LPG supplier, followed by the Kwale Hydrocarbon Processing Plant.
Some analysts also expressed optimism that the surge in domestic supply would have a direct effect on retail prices and save FX previously used in importing the product.
“Sourcing almost 90 per cent of gas needed for consumption locally would significantly reduce the pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves, as marketers no longer need massive amounts of US Dollars to fund import cargoes,” Dr Ebikabowei Aduku, an economist and lecturer at the University of Africa Toru-Orua (UAT), stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
