LPG marketers push new safety standard as Nigeria eyes five million tonnes by 2030

Marketers of cooking gas have asked operators across Nigeria's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry to tighten safety practices, follow regulations more closely and take up digital tools to cut losses.

The call came from the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) after its 2026 webinar, themed "Downstream LPG Operational Excellence and Compliance". Operators, regulators and other stakeholders attended.

The association said better day-to-day practices would protect investments, improve efficiency and build consumer confidence in a market Nigeria wants to grow quickly.

What the group is proposing

A key outcome of the meeting was a proposed NALPGAM Standard of Operational Excellence. It rests on four pillars: safe and well-maintained facilities, competent and well-trained operators, processes that meet regulatory requirements, and protection for consumers.

NALPGAM President Edu Inyang said growth cannot come from selling more gas alone. "Safety is not an occasional campaign; it must become a continuous industry culture," he said.

Participants asked operators to build safety into routine work, keep up preventive maintenance and meet licensing and incident-reporting rules. They also warned against unauthorised propane blending and illegal decanting, saying such practices put businesses and consumers at risk.

Inyang argued that compliance pays for itself. "Compliance is not merely a regulatory burden; it is a business advantage," he said, adding that well-run operations reduce accidents and protect investments.

The webinar also looked at technology. Speakers named smart filling systems, automated tank gauges, load cells, flow meters and vehicle-tracking systems as practical ways to monitor product movement, cut losses and keep better inventory records.

Why it matters to households

Many Nigerian homes and small businesses rely on cooking gas, and safety failures at filling plants or during refills can injure people and destroy property. Losses in the chain can also push up what consumers pay per kilogramme.

The talks come as Nigeria works towards consuming about five million tonnes of LPG a year by 2030. Hitting that target, according to the association, will need more investment, stronger distribution networks and wider access for consumers.

Stakeholders called for deeper involvement in the Decade of Gas LPG penetration programme, better cylinder traceability and support for certified local manufacturing. NALPGAM also asked regulators and programme coordinators to bring its members into LPG penetration and cylinder recirculation plans, citing their nationwide spread and closeness to consumers.

Inyang set out the group's goal plainly: every LPG facility safe and properly maintained, every operator well trained, every process compliant, and every customer protected.

The association said it would keep working with government agencies, regulators and other industry players on a safer and more competitive market.