FG Rolls Out N27,000 Free Cooking Gas Cylinders, Targets One Million Homes Nationwide
- Federal Government has launched the National Grassroots LPG Access Programme, targeting women's cooking fuel access
- 27,000 cooking gas cylinders will be distributed, promoting clean cooking and reducing reliance on traditional fuels
- Rural Women Empowerment Initiative supports 3,000 women with N100,000 each to enhance local economic opportunities
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Pascal Oparada is a journalist with Legit.ng, covering technology, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy for over a decade.
The Federal Government has expanded its clean cooking campaign with the launch of the National Grassroots LPG Access Programme (NGLPP) in Akwa Ibom State, with 27,000 filled cooking gas cylinders earmarked for distribution to women across the state.
Akwa Ibom becomes the second state to benefit from the nationwide rollout after Bayelsa State, as the government moves to increase access to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and reduce reliance on traditional cooking fuels.
Source: Getty Images
The initiative is being implemented through the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas) and the Decade of Gas Initiative as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader plan to expand clean cooking access across Nigeria.
The programme targets one million households annually, five million homes by 2030 and more than 10 million homes by 2060.
Beneficiaries to receive free refills
Speaking at the launch in Uyo, Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Initiative, Ed Ubong, described Akwa Ibom as strategically important to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry because of its significant oil production and natural gas reserves.
He said the 27,000 cylinders would be distributed to women in the state, adding that the programme would eventually cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Decade of Gas NGLPP Programme Lead, Ramatu Abdullahi, said the initiative would operate a Depot-Hub-Node cylinder exchange model designed to make LPG refill points accessible within one to two kilometres of participating communities.
Under the programme, beneficiaries are eligible for up to six free LPG refills within one year. A digital monitoring platform will also be used to track cylinders, refills and household adoption, according to a report by Daily Trust.
Government targets wider LPG adoption
Representing the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure, Francis Alabo Ogaree, commended the programme’s emphasis on sustainable LPG adoption.
He highlighted cylinder recirculation, refill support and barcode-enabled monitoring as key features designed to improve accountability and ensure the programme delivers lasting benefits.
According to him, the initiative supports Nigeria’s ambition of increasing domestic LPG consumption to five million metric tonnes annually by 2030.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the programme reflects the administration’s commitment to women’s empowerment, grassroots prosperity and greater domestic utilisation of Nigeria’s gas resources.
N300m support for rural women
The minister also launched the Rural Women Empowerment Initiative for Entrepreneurship Development, under which 3,000 women will receive N100,000 each, a report by Punch said.
The N300 million intervention is designed to support businesses, agriculture, household incomes and other rural economic activities.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno welcomed the programme, saying it could improve livelihoods, protect the environment and create economic opportunities for thousands of households.
Source: Getty Images
He added that the state was positioning itself to attract investments in LPG bottling, cylinder manufacturing and maintenance, gas storage, transportation, logistics and processing.
The launch featured LPG safety sensitisation, the flag-off of cylinder distribution and the rollout of the rural women entrepreneurship initiative as the Federal Government continues its push to make clean cooking energy more accessible to Nigerians.
FG removes import taxes on cooking gas
Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigeria's push towards cleaner and cheaper energy has received a major boost after the Federal Government removed import duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on cooking gas, compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, a move that is already reflecting in lower LPG prices announced by dealers.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) unveiled the tax incentives on Thursday, July 30, 2026, under the Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative, describing the policy as part of efforts to reduce transport and energy costs while accelerating the country's transition away from petrol.
Source: Legit.ng
