In a bold move to revolutionize domestic energy use and reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint, the Federal Government has announced an ambitious plan to transition five million households to clean cooking gas by 2030. This target forms part of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Penetration Initiative championed by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), under the leadership of Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Speaking at the ongoing Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Lagos, Ekpo emphasized that the initiative is central to President Bola Tinubu’s energy transition plan. The program is aimed at replacing traditional biomass cooking methods—which contribute heavily to deforestation and indoor air pollution—with environmentally friendly and health-safe alternatives.
“We have rolled out the LPG penetration programme, distributing cylinders across five of the six geopolitical zones of the country, with the South-East rollout pending. The goal is to empower women, support youth, and promote cleaner cooking methods,” Ekpo stated.
According to Ekpo, gas is now positioned at the heart of Nigeria’s energy policy. This aligns with the administration’s broader commitment to the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative, which focuses on leveraging Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves to drive industrial growth, job creation, and access to clean, affordable energy.
“President Tinubu is keen on turning Nigeria’s gas wealth into economic strength. From industrial supply to household use, our gas infrastructure must serve both the economy and the people,” Ekpo added.
He noted that significant milestones have been achieved in the sector, especially in industrial gas supply. Every registered industrial gas off-taker in the country is now receiving the required volumes of gas, a development that signals improved supply reliability and regulatory efficiency.
The federal government is banking on key gas infrastructure projects—such as the OB3 (Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben) pipeline and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline—to boost gas delivery across the country. These projects are expected to unlock gas flow from the South to the North, promoting equitable access and spurring local manufacturing growth.
In addition to large-scale pipelines, the government is investing in modular and scalable gas solutions like mini-LNG plants and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations. These installations are meant to improve last-mile energy delivery in rural and semi-urban areas, thereby creating employment and stimulating local economies.
Ekpo also highlighted the ministry’s focus on digital transformation, noting that automation, smart metering, and real-time data analytics are becoming integral to gas distribution and supply chain monitoring.
The success of the LPG penetration strategy, according to the minister, depends heavily on local capacity. He affirmed that the government is working to localize the production of key components such as gas cylinders, pipes, and regulators—an approach that reduces import dependency and strengthens the domestic manufacturing base.
“We are also training a new generation of gas professionals—technically sound, digitally literate, and ready to compete globally,” Ekpo emphasized.
The Federal Government is partnering with the private sector and international development agencies to ensure that youth and women are fully integrated into the gas economy. Strategic initiatives include vocational training, micro-credit support, and entrepreneurship development for small-scale gas retailers.
As the country races towards achieving its 2030 clean cooking target, the government is calling for public and private sector collaboration to ensure sustainable impact. The Minister urged state governments, non-governmental organizations, and civil society actors to support the initiative through sensitization, co-investment, and distribution logistics.
Industry experts have applauded the move, noting that household air pollution is a major public health concern in Nigeria. According to the World Health Organization, over 98,000 Nigerians die annually from illnesses linked to smoke from traditional cooking fuels.
The clean cooking transition is not just about energy—it’s a public health, environmental, and economic imperative.