The Managing Director of Eterna Plc, Olumide Adeosun, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to focus on targeted investments in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector to increase access and promote clean cooking across the country. Speaking at the 2025 NAEC Energy Conference in Lagos, Adeosun noted that while Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is receiving significant government attention and investment, LPG consumption has stagnated despite its importance to health and environmental goals.

Adeosun highlighted that Nigeria’s LPG consumption has declined over the past five years, with the country failing to meet its target of five million tonnes per annum by 2025. He attributed this decline to the inability to distribute gas to where it is needed, rather than a lack of production. The main challenge, according to Adeosun, is getting gas to the last mile, where it is needed for cooking and other domestic uses.

To address this issue, Adeosun stressed the need for a financing pathway that enables end-users to afford gas bottles and other necessary equipment. He commended Techno Oil for setting up a 500,000-bottle-per-annum plant but emphasized that more targeted investment is required to make gas accessible at the domestic level. The Eterna boss explained that his company focuses on meeting customers at their point of need, particularly at the retail level, to ensure reliable restocking and support for new customers.

Adeosun proposed that the government should incentivize the conversion of heavy vehicles and industrial equipment to run on CNG, while addressing the cost of conversion for private and local transit vehicles later. He also called on the government to directly intervene in the supply of adoption kits, including gas cylinders, stoves, and cookers, to rural and low-income Nigerian homes, to enable them to switch from dirtier kitchen fuels.

Furthermore, Adeosun advocated for policies that make the inclusion of gas reticulation infrastructure and facilities in future and existing residential estates mandatory, to create more structured demand for LPG and CNG for home applications. Without developing the last-mile demand centers through robust infrastructural development, the campaign for gas penetration may not be realized in good time.

In summary, Nigeria needs to prioritize targeted investments in the LPG sector to increase access and promote clean cooking. This requires a financing pathway for end-users, incentives for conversion to CNG, and government intervention in the supply of adoption kits. By addressing these challenges, Nigeria can unlock the potential of LPG and achieve its energy goals, ultimately benefiting the environment, health, and economic development.