At a time when Nigerian households are struggling under the burden of high energy costs, the irony is difficult to ignore: kerosene, once considered the go-to fuel for low-income households, is now more expensive than both petrol and diesel. In some markets, a litre of kerosene sells for over N1,300, compared to N875 for petrol and between N1,000 and N1,3000 for diesel.
For millions of families, especially in semi-urban and rural communities, this shift has left them with even fewer affordable options for cooking. This makes the case for transitioning to gas, particularly Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), more urgent than ever.
In this context, the recent announcement, last year, of a strategic collaboration between Mezovest and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited could not have come at a more critical moment. The partnership, discussed at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, aims to revolutionise the distribution of gas, both LPG and CNG, across Nigeria. The goal is to make clean energy more accessible, affordable, and dependable.
At its core, this initiative signals a shift in Nigeria’s energy policy from fossil fuel dependency to a more gas-driven, inclusive energy economy. But beyond that, it touches the everyday realities of Nigerians who have long been excluded from the benefits of modern energy infrastructure.
The historical dependence on kerosene for cooking in Nigeria was once justified by its perceived affordability and availability. But that narrative no longer holds. The removal of subsidies on petrol and diesel, as well as deregulation in the downstream sector, has distorted the traditional fuel arrangement. Kerosene prices have shot up with little government attention or intervention.
Gas, particularly LPG and CNG, is now being positioned as the logical successor to kerosene. It is cleaner, more efficient, and, with the right infrastructure, can be cheaper. However, affordability remains a mirage for many Nigerians. The challenge has been supply chain inefficiencies, infrastructure bottlenecks, and limited access in underserved regions. This is where the Mezovest-NNPC partnership becomes critical.
Mezovest, through its energy trading subsidiary Mezoenergy, has built a supply chain network for gas across Nigeria since its establishment in 2021. Now, with NNPC’s massive infrastructure, national reach, and policy leverage, the collaboration offers a unique public-private model that could finally break the logjam stifling Nigeria’s gas expansion ambitions.
Tosin Thompson, CEO of Mezovest, rightly described the collaboration as a game-changer, predicting that it will drive down gas prices and improve access nationwide. His co-founder, Tosin Ashafa, also noted the significance of the partnership for the future of Nigeria’s energy sector, calling it a potential catalyst for broader economic development.
NNPC’s endorsement of Mezovest’s last-mile delivery model is also telling. It reflects a welcome shift in policy thinking, one that prioritises delivery and affordability over rhetoric and bureaucracy.
Lower gas prices not only benefit households; they stimulate the broader economy. Thompson was clear on this point by saying that cheaper energy means reduced production costs, lower food inflation, and better margins for businesses. This, in turn, translates into job creation and industrial growth.
Small businesses, which often rely on diesel generators or firewood for operations, stand to benefit significantly from affordable and reliable gas access. Restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, and other informal sector enterprises could see operating costs shrink dramatically.
Moreover, the environmental benefits are not negligible. As global pressure mounts for nations to meet carbon emission targets, Nigeria’s move to a gas-based energy system aligns well with international climate commitments. LPG and CNG emit fewer greenhouse gases than kerosene and firewood, which are still widely used across rural Nigeria.
Still, the road ahead is steep. Infrastructure gaps, especially in gas storage, bottling, and transportation, remain a major concern. For instance, many parts of Northern Nigeria lack the necessary facilities to support widespread gas distribution. Safety awareness, standardisation, and consumer education must also be scaled up to build trust in the use of gas.
Financing is another hurdle. While NNPC and Mezovest bring technical and operational expertise, the successful rollout of affordable gas infrastructure will require significant capital investment, both public and private. Policymakers must also remove the remaining regulatory bottlenecks and offer incentives to encourage private sector involvement across the value chain.
If Nigeria is serious about making energy a driver of economic transformation, it must move beyond press statements and pilot projects. The various partnerships to roll out gas offer a credible blueprint for scaling gas usage across the country, but only if they are followed through with strong execution, policy support, and public accountability.
As kerosene prices continue to rise and food inflation erodes household incomes, clean and affordable gas may be the only practical alternative for millions of Nigerians. This moment, marked by innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision, could define the future of Nigeria’s energy landscape. The push for gas must not fail. Too much is at stake.
