Cooking Gas Programme to Reach 10 Million Nigerian Homes

The Federal Government has announced that its National Grassroots LPG (cooking gas) Penetration Programme is expected to reach more than 10 million Nigerian households by 2060 as part of efforts to expand clean cooking nationwide.

The programme, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) in partnership with the Decade of Gas Initiative, was launched in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday. The state is the second stop in the nationwide rollout after Bayelsa State.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the programme would target one million households annually, reaching five million homes by 2030 and more than 10 million by 2060.

The minister called on governments, regulators, industry stakeholders, financial institutions, development partners, traditional leaders, communities and the media to support the programme and ensure its sustainability.

According to Ekpo, the initiative reflects President Bola Tinubu’s vision of using Nigeria’s gas resources to improve living conditions, promote healthier homes, empower women, create jobs and strengthen local economies.

The Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Ed Ubong, said 27,000 filled LPG cylinders would be distributed to women across Akwa Ibom State. He added that the programme would eventually be implemented across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Under the initiative, beneficiaries will receive up to six free refills, while a digital platform will be used to track cylinders, refills and household adoption.

The programme also introduces a Depot–Hub–Node cylinder exchange model, with refill points planned to be located within one to two kilometres of communities.

The government said the initiative is part of Nigeria’s broader goal of increasing domestic LPG consumption to five million metric tonnes annually by 2030.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, welcomed the programme, saying it would not only provide cooking gas but also improve livelihoods, protect the environment and create economic opportunities for thousands of households.

The minister also launched the Rural Women Empowerment Initiative for Entrepreneurship Development, under which 3,000 women will each receive N100,000, amounting to N300 million in direct financial support for businesses, agriculture, household income and rural economic activities.

The Decade of Gas Initiative said the state-by-state rollout would continue, with the next participating state to be announced soon.