BREAKING: Dangote to Begin Direct Sale of Cooking Gas to Nigerians After Marketers Refuse to Reduce Prices

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In a major shake-up of Nigeria’s energy market, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the Dangote Refinery will begin direct sales of cooking gas (LPG) to Nigerian consumers, bypassing traditional gas marketers who have allegedly refused to crash prices.

The decision follows growing frustration over the high cost of LPG nationwide, with consumers calling for urgent solutions as many households revert to unsafe alternatives like charcoal and firewood due to unaffordable gas prices.

Speaking during a recent facility tour, Dangote stated that the refinery currently produces 22,000 tonnes of LPG daily, and expansion is underway to meet rising demand. He revealed that gas marketers have been unwilling to lower prices, forcing the refinery to consider selling directly to end users.

“If the marketers refuse to bring down the price, we will go directly and sell cooking gas to Nigerians,” Dangote reportedly said.

The move has sparked backlash from LPG marketers, who argue that direct retail from the refinery could destroy the distribution ecosystem and lead to a monopolized market. Former chairman of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s LPG Downstream Group, Godwin Okoduwa, expressed concerns about potential job losses and market imbalance.

Similarly, Bassey Essien, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of LPG Marketers, criticized Dangote’s proposal as “unrealistic,” insisting that there are costs associated with distribution that the refinery may not fully account for in its pricing model.

Despite the resistance, many Nigerians have welcomed the development. On social media, the news has gone viral with hashtags like #DangoteGas, #CrashThePrice, and #CookingGasRelief, as citizens commend the move as a timely intervention in a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

“This is what real capitalism looks like. The people win when competition is introduced,” one X user commented.

Another wrote: “Marketers have been exploiting us for too long. Let Dangote sell directly. We’re tired.”

Dangote’s direct-to-consumer model could drastically alter Nigeria’s LPG sector, offering cheaper gas options to millions and pressuring other distributors to reduce prices. If implemented successfully, it may also push regulatory bodies like the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to revisit current gas pricing and distribution frameworks.

With the Nigerian economy still battling inflation and fuel subsidy removal effects, this move could provide much-needed relief to households already stretched thin.

As the plan unfolds, all eyes remain on Dangote Refinery and the reactions from industry players, regulators, and the Nigerian public.