Gas Marketers Push for Safer, Smarter LPG Operations, Stricter Compliance

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has called on operators in Nigeria’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector to prioritise safety, regulatory compliance and digitalisation to support sustainable industry growth.

The call was made during the association’s 2026 webinar themed “Downstream LPG Operational Excellence and Compliance”, which brought together industry operators, regulators and other stakeholders to discuss safety risks, market volatility, operational losses and regulatory requirements.

NALPGAM National President, Edu Inyang, said the sector’s future depended on more than increasing supply and consumption, stressing the need for responsible, efficient and sustainable operations.

He said safety should become a permanent part of industry culture rather than an occasional campaign.

A key outcome of the webinar was the adoption of the proposed “NALPGAM Standard of Operational Excellence”, based on four principles: safe and well-maintained facilities, competent and adequately trained operators, compliant processes and customer protection.

Participants urged operators to incorporate safety into daily activities, strengthen preventive maintenance, comply with licensing and incident-reporting requirements, and eliminate dangerous practices such as unauthorised propane blending and illegal decanting.

Inyang said regulatory compliance should be regarded as an investment in business performance rather than merely an obligation imposed by authorities.

He noted that well-managed LPG facilities could reduce accidents, improve efficiency, protect investments and strengthen public confidence in the industry.

The webinar also highlighted the role of digital technologies in reducing product losses, improving accountability and enhancing operational efficiency.

Participants identified smart filling systems, automated tank gauges, load cells, flow meters and vehicle-tracking technology as tools that could improve measurement accuracy and monitoring across LPG operations.

The discussions come as Nigeria targets annual LPG consumption of approximately five million tonnes by 2030. Stakeholders said achieving the target would require stronger coordination among government agencies, regulators, marketers and other industry participants.

They called for increased participation in the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas LPG penetration programme, alongside efforts to widen access to cooking gas, improve cylinder traceability and encourage certified local manufacturing.

NALPGAM also urged regulators and programme coordinators to involve its members more actively in implementing LPG penetration and cylinder recirculation initiatives, citing their nationwide presence and proximity to consumers.

The association maintained that expanding access to cooking gas must be accompanied by stronger safety measures, better infrastructure and improved operational standards.

It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Federal Government, regulators and other stakeholders to build a safer, more efficient and competitive LPG market.