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Energy Crisis: Gas Price Rises 25% In Three Weeks …Europe Turns To Nigeria, Others For LNG
The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas, has risen by 25.7per cent in the last three weeks as 12.5kg now sells at N8,800 from N7,000.
Investigations show that one Kg rose by 11per cent to N1,000 from N900, 3kg rose by 10per cent to N2,200 from N2,000, 6kg rose by 15.8per cent to N4,400 from N3,800, while 12.5kg rose by 25.7per cent to N8,800 from N7,000.
The Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers (ALPGR) branch of NUPENG had called on the government to come up with a clear policy direction for the development of LPG in the country to forestall the consistent rise in the price of the product.
According to the association, the worrisome aspect of the development is that it has continued to rise on a daily basis for weeks now but began to escalate in the last one week, leading to significant increases in both depots and retail outlets.
The association said: “A similar price rise occurred in 2021 leading to the sale of 12.5kg gas for up to N10,000 in late November and early December, 2021 amidst supply shortages. We expect the government to come up with a clear policy direction for the development of LPG in the country to forestall the ugly situation.”
However, the Federal Government attributed this challenge to shortage of supply of gas from the major oil companies who have refused to allow transportation of third-party gas through their joint pipelines to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) trains.
Appealing for support, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, urged partners in the NLNG project to allow access through their joint pipelines to increase supply to the plant.
Sylva said: “NLNG is at present only able to produce at about 70per cent of installed capacity and has been unable to operate at full capacity following the refusal of the joint partners – Shell, Chevron, as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, and others, to allow third parties to transport gas through their pipelines to the NLNG trains.
“These challenges have been causing the company’s inability to meet both domestic and international gas obligations.”
He added that if the NLNG partners relax their rules and allow third parties to supply gas to the NLNG, the company will be able to provide gas to help ease European Union’s gas crisis.
“The issue we have with the existing NLNG trains is that of insufficient gas supply. The partners are running out of gas and they are refusing third parties to supply gas to the trains. The partners are insisting that they can only allow third-party supply gas to the plant only if they agree to supply at subsidised rates.
“These people, of course, want to make money and they cannot supply at subsidised rates and that’s why the NLNG trains cannot produce at full capacity.”
Meanwhile, European countries, yesterday, continued their quest to have Nigeria export more Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the European Union, as they seek a move away from Russian energy dependency.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is forcing Europe to diversify its energy supply.
It was gathered that LNG is fast becoming the low carbon alternative fuel of choice for domestic, marine and automotive consumption.
Also, the NLNG terminal currently running on six trains IN Bonny, Rivers State, has an LNG production capacity of 22.2million tons per annum, Mtpa, which is expected to increase to 30Mtpa by 2030.
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, led European delegation which includes, Ambassador of Portugal, Luis Barros; Ambassador of Spain, Juan Sell; Ambassador of Italy, Stefano De Leo; and Deputy Head of Mission (France), Olivier Chatelais, on a courtesy call on the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd to strengthen its partnership with Nigeria in the energy sector.
Isopi noted that the region was ready to strengthen its partnership with Nigeria in the energy sector.
According to Isopi, with the current geopolitical situation in Europe, the continent was interested in strengthening its cooperation with Nigeria, particularly in the area of possible increase in the supplies of Liquefied Natural Gas LNG).
“Nigeria is the fourth gas supplier to Europe. At least, 40percent of the Nigerian LNG is currently exported to Europe. We are not only major clients for Nigeria; we are also major partners in the oil &gas sector because some of the companies that are working with you are from Europe. So, we share the same interest and same objectives,” Isopi added.
On his part, GMD/CEO NNPC Ltd, Mallam Mele Kyari assured the European delegation that the company would continue to deepen its historical relationship with EU companies in Nigeria in order to add more value to its business, particularly towards increasing gas supply to the global market and enhancing domestic gas utilisation.
The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board says it has begun the compilation of list of retired civil servants who have defaulted on the full repayment of housing loans obtained.
Head of Information and Public Relations, FGSHLB, Mrs Ngozi Obiechina, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.
Obiechina quoted the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs Salamatu Ahmed, as saying that the move was aimed at recovering mortgaged properties from retirees who failed to meet their loan obligations.
Ahmed noted that the decision followed a recent memo issued by Mrs Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to her, the memo reminded public servants of the mandatory requirement to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness to the FGSHLB and MDA Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society as a precondition for retirement.
The Executive Secretary said that the board would take necessary legal steps to repossess properties where applicable, in line with the terms of the loan agreements.
She said this was in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 021002 (p), issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“I am directed to bring to your attention the provision of Public Service Rule (PSR) 021002 (p), which mandates all public servants to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness as a prerequisite for retirement.
“The Federal Government will commence the seizure of mortgaged properties belonging to retiring federal public servants who have failed to fully repay housing loans obtained from the board,” she said.
Ahmed explained that the FGSHLB reserves the legal right to repossess any mortgaged property in cases where a public servant exits service without fully repaying the loan.
She reiterated that the directive also applied to already retired officers who were still indebted.
She urged all affected public servants to regularise their loan status and obtain the required clearance certificate without delay.
“The board is currently compiling a list of such retirees, which will be forwarded to relevant regulatory agencies for debt recovery.
“The FGSHLB remains committed to enforcing compliance and ensuring proper loan recovery procedures are followed, “ she added.
The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
The Federal Government has kicked off a three-day induction programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation, aimed at equipping them for strategic leadership and effective policy implementation.
The induction, according to a statement yesterday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Eno Olotu, which commenced on Wednesday, is being held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the new appointees and described their roles as pivotal to governance and national development.
“Permanent Secretaries are the engine room of the government. They are critical to driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and reform across the service”, she said.
“The expectations are high, and the responsibility is immense. But with commitment and teamwork, we can deliver a more efficient, accountable, and citizen-centred public service.
“This final lap of FCSSIP 25 calls for urgency, accountability, and strategic focus. You must translate vision into measurable results,” she stated.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, described the programme as a strategic investment in leadership capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The sessions featured expert-led discussions, simulations, and strategic briefings facilitated by a distinguished faculty, including Engr. Suleiman Adamu, former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice; Alh. Yusuf Addy, retired Federal Director; Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Amb. Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Mr. Adesola Olusade, and Dr. Ifeoma Anagbogu, all retired Permanent Secretaries.
Participants include Dr. Obi Emeka Vitalis, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila, Dr. Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma, Dr. Umobong Emanso Okop, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen, Mrs. Oyekunle N. Patience, Dr. Kalba U. Danjuma, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Mr. Onwusoro I. Maduka, Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Dr. Anuma N. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olaninre, and Mr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, alongside the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.
The induction programme will feature sessions on public sector leadership, policy delivery, ethics in service, digital transformation, and performance management.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has announced that a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will begin soon.
Edun revealed this at the ongoing Nigerian Investor Forum, held alongside the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.
The minister explained that the recent changes in the NNPCL management are part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to clean up and examine the company closely.
While addressing top global investors, including representatives from J.P. Morgan, Edun shared key reforms the government has introduced to revive the economy and restore investor confidence.
He told the investors that the government’s bold economic steps have laid a strong foundation to attract private investment.
He stated, “Our goal is not just to maintain this momentum, but to accelerate it. We are targeting seven per cent annual growth, and we believe the policies we have implemented have laid the groundwork to achieve this.”
Edun highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has rolled out major reforms that are already making a difference.
He added that the Nigerian economy grew by 3.84 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024 and recorded a 3.4 per cent growth for the year.
Edun further stressed the importance of the reforms, describing them as “unprecedented,” adding that, “We said we would do it, and now we have done it. This time, we’re staying the course.”
He pointed out signs of progress such as lower budget deficits, a better trade balance, and a more stable exchange rate.
He also said that the focus is now on growing key sectors, especially agriculture.
According to Edun, agriculture is at the top of the government’s agenda, with the aim of improving food supply and increasing productivity.
“We aim to close the food supply gap, not by importing more, but by enabling domestic producers to scale and innovate,” he said.
On infrastructure, Edun revealed that the government has rolled out 90,000km of fibre optic cable to improve internet access.
He said this move is crucial for supporting young Nigerians and tech startups.
He also noted that 4,000km of roads have been offered for private sector participation, with the first 1,000km already approved for construction.