By Abubakar Yunusa
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has adopted a standard operational framework to improve cooking gas safety, curb unsafe practices and strengthen regulatory compliance across Nigeria’s liquefied petroleum gas sector.
The association also urged operators to embrace digital technology, preventive maintenance and proper staff training to reduce accidents, product losses and operational inefficiencies.
The move 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 and compliance requirements.
The National President of NALPGAM, Barrister Edu Inyang, said the industry must prioritise safety as demand for cooking gas grows.
“The future of Nigeria’s LPG industry cannot be achieved by increasing volumes alone. We must grow safely, responsibly, efficiently and sustainably,” he said.
“Safety is not an occasional campaign; it must become a continuous industry culture.”
A key outcome of the webinar was the adoption of the proposed NALPGAM Standard of Operational Excellence, built around four principles: safe and well-maintained facilities, competent and trained operators, compliant processes and customer protection.
Participants called on operators to make safety a routine part of their operations, strengthen equipment maintenance and comply with licensing and incident-reporting requirements.
They also warned against unsafe practices, including unauthorised propane blending and illegal decanting of cooking gas.
Inyang said compliance should be seen as an investment in business sustainability rather than a burden imposed by regulators.
“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 association also highlighted the role of digital technology in improving safety, accountability and efficiency across the LPG value chain.
It identified smart filling systems, automated tank gauges, load cells, flow meters and vehicle-tracking systems as tools that could help operators minimise product losses and monitor distribution more effectively.
Nigeria is targeting LPG consumption of approximately five million tonnes annually by 2030, a goal stakeholders said would require stronger industry participation, wider access to cooking gas and improved cylinder traceability.
They also called for greater collaboration under the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas LPG penetration programme and increased support for certified local cylinder manufacturing.
NALPGAM urged regulators and programme coordinators to involve its members in implementing LPG penetration and cylinder recirculation initiatives, citing their nationwide presence and proximity to consumers.
Inyang said the association’s objective was to ensure that safety and professionalism became standard practice across the industry.
“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,” he said.
“This is the standard of operational excellence we must collectively pursue.”
The association reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government, regulators and other industry stakeholders to develop a safer, more efficient and competitive LPG market.
The renewed safety drive comes amid Federal Government efforts to expand the use of cooking gas as a cleaner alternative to firewood.
The Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, Olu Verheijen, recently highlighted measures introduced since 2023 to encourage LPG adoption, including import duty waivers and zero-rated value-added tax on LPG and gas cylinders.
The measures are intended to improve access to cleaner cooking options and reduce reliance on firewood.
Speaking at the Africa Interviews Sustainability Forum 2026 in Lagos, Verheijen said Nigeria’s gas resources should translate into better household energy options.
“A gas-rich nation cannot be comfortable while families remain stuck in the age of firewood,” she said.
Industry stakeholders say expanding LPG use must therefore go hand in hand with stronger safety standards, effective regulation and responsible operations to protect consumers as demand increases.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
