The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has urged operators across Nigeria’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) value chain to strengthen safety standards, regulatory compliance and digitalisation to improve efficiency and support sustainable market growth.

The call followed 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 compliance requirements in the downstream gas market.

Speaking at the event, NALPGAM National President, Barrister Edu Inyang, said expanding LPG supply and consumption must be matched by stronger operational standards and a sustained commitment to safety.

“The future of Nigeria’s LPG industry cannot be achieved by increasing volumes alone. We must grow safely, responsibly, efficiently and sustainably. Safety is not an occasional campaign; it must become a continuous industry culture,” Inyang said.

A major outcome of the webinar was the adoption of the aspiration to establish a “NALPGAM Standard of Operational Excellence,” built around four core principles: safe and well-maintained facilities, competent and adequately trained operators, compliant operational processes, and customer protection.

Participants urged LPG marketers and facility operators to integrate safety into their daily activities, strengthen preventive maintenance, meet licensing and incident-reporting obligations, and eliminate unsafe practices such as unauthorised propane blending and illegal decanting.

Inyang said compliance should be viewed as a strategic business investment rather than merely a regulatory obligation.

“Compliance is not merely a regulatory burden; it is a business advantage. Well-managed LPG operations reduce accidents, improve efficiency, protect investments and strengthen public confidence in our industry,” he said.

Digital technology seen as key to reducing losses

The webinar also identified digital technology as an important tool for improving accountability, controlling product losses and strengthening operational efficiency across the LPG supply chain.

Participants highlighted smart filling systems, automated tank gauges, load cells, flow meters and vehicle-tracking solutions as practical technologies that could improve measurement accuracy, support inventory management and provide better visibility into product movement.

Wider adoption of these systems, stakeholders said, could help operators manage costs, improve service delivery and build a more transparent and competitive LPG market.

The emphasis on operational efficiency comes as Nigeria seeks to expand domestic LPG consumption to approximately five million tonnes annually by 2030, requiring sustained investment in infrastructure, distribution networks, consumer access and market development.

NALPGAM seeks stronger role in LPG expansion programmes

Stakeholders also called for greater industry participation in the Decade of Gas LPG penetration programme, alongside stronger collaboration to expand access, improve cylinder traceability and promote certified local manufacturing.

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

The association said closer collaboration between government, regulators and marketers would help translate national gas-development ambitions into practical improvements in distribution, consumer safety and access to cleaner cooking fuel.

Reiterating the association’s operational priorities, Inyang said every LPG facility should be safe and properly maintained, every operator competent and adequately trained, every process compliant, and every customer protected.

NALPGAM reaffirmed its commitment to working with government agencies, regulators and other industry stakeholders to develop a safer, more efficient and competitive Nigerian LPG market.

The association’s position underscores a central challenge for Nigeria’s gas expansion strategy: increasing LPG consumption must go hand in hand with stronger safety enforcement, reliable operating standards and technology-driven accountability across the value chain.

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