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The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has launched a ₦2.27 trillion National Cylinder Recirculation Programme (NCRP), targeting at least 43 million certified liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders nationwide to address safety concerns in the domestic cooking gas market.
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The programme will establish a digital National Cylinder Registry to identify, track, inspect and requalify cylinders, with 42 authorised requalification centres planned across the six geopolitical zones.
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Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, says the initiative will create thousands of skilled jobs, stimulate domestic manufacturing and attract investment into Nigeria’s LPG industry.
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Industry stakeholders have called for improved financing, stronger regulatory oversight and expanded last-mile distribution infrastructure to ensure safer and more affordable access to clean cooking fuels.
November 9, (THEWILL) – The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has launched a ₦2.27 trillion National Cylinder Recirculation Programme (NCRP), targeting at least 43 million certified liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders nationwide to tackle the circulation of expired, damaged and substandard gas cylinders in the country.
The programme, unveiled at the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cooking (NACC) Conference 2026 in Abuja, establishes a national digital framework for registering, identifying, inspecting, tracking and recirculating LPG cylinders to ensure that only cylinders meeting approved safety standards remain in circulation.
The initiative is designed to address longstanding safety concerns in Nigeria’s domestic LPG market, where the continued use of expired and defective cylinders poses risks to households and other consumers.
Under the programme, every cylinder will be registered on a digital National Cylinder Registry and assigned a unique identification linked to a Quick Response (QR) code.
The system will enable regulators and authorised industry operators to monitor cylinders throughout their lifecycle, from manufacture and distribution to inspection, requalification and eventual withdrawal.
Cylinders returned through approved retail channels will be inspected at Authorised Requalification Facilities (ARFs).
Those that meet the required standards will be returned to circulation, while cylinders that fail inspection will be withheld for corrective action or disposal in accordance with applicable requirements.
The programme is expected to cover all six geopolitical zones, bringing regulators, manufacturers, requalification facilities, retailers and other industry participants under a coordinated national framework.
Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, represented by the Director of the Weights and Measures Department in the ministry, Dr Salim Mohammed, described the initiative as a major investment in safety, industrialisation and human development
Oduwole said the programme, which has a projected investment value of ₦2.27 trillion, would go beyond regulatory enforcement by creating employment opportunities, supporting local industries and establishing a framework for long-term development of the LPG sector.
“The National Cylinder Recirculation Program is more than a regulatory initiative; it is a transformative ₦2.27 trillion national investment in safety, industrialization, and human development.
By deploying at least 43 million certified cylinders and establishing 42 requalification centers nationwide, we are creating thousands of skilled jobs and laying the foundation for long-term sector planning,” she said.
The minister’s remarks underscored the economic opportunities expected from the programme, particularly in domestic cylinder manufacturing, technical services, logistics, maintenance, retail distribution and the development of clean cooking infrastructure.
The establishment of 42 requalification centres is expected to provide the facilities required to inspect and certify cylinders before they are returned to the market, while ensuring that defective units are removed from circulation.
At a panel session titled, “Expanding LPG Access and Opportunities in the Nigerian Clean Cooking Sector”, industry stakeholders examined the investment, regulatory, distribution and technological requirements for expanding access to LPG across the country.
Representing the Managing Director of FuelTree, Dr ‘Bekeme Olowola, the company’s Chief Technologist, Mr Femi Oye, emphasised the importance of reliable data in attracting investment into Nigeria’s clean cooking industry.
Oye said investors and financial institutions required verifiable information to assess market opportunities, measure performance and determine the commercial viability of projects.
“Data transparency is the cornerstone of capital mobilisation. Investors, capital providers, and allocators are consistently asking for empirical data.
Whatever you cannot track and record, you cannot measure, and without verified data, you cannot build a truly bankable pipeline for the clean cooking ecosystem,” he said.
He called for a broader financing framework that would accommodate grants, technical support, commercial equity and specialised financial products to help businesses expand their operations and reach consumers in underserved communities.
According to him, access to appropriate funding would be critical to overcoming the financial and operational challenges associated with extending clean cooking services to last-mile consumers.
Also speaking, Engr. Sabo Ahmed Barau, representing the Executive Director, Health, Safety and Community Relations of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), stressed the need for effective regulatory supervision across the LPG supply chain.
Barau said government oversight must cover production, storage, handling and distribution to ensure that safety standards were maintained at every stage of the process.
“From the government and regulatory standpoint, our priority is ensuring that every stage, from production, storage, and handling to last-mile delivery, is strictly monitored around the clock to safeguard Nigerian households,” he said.
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Barau emphasised that protecting consumers required continuous monitoring and effective coordination among regulatory authorities and operators involved in the LPG business.
Princess Odiaka, Chief Executive Officer of Cook-Blue and Chiffinity Intelligence Consult, highlighted the role of composite cylinders and community-based distribution models in improving access to clean cooking fuels, particularly among rural households.
She cited her organisation’s “Trash-to-Cook” initiative, through which rural women exchange recyclable household waste for clean gas refills.
According to her, the initiative combines efforts to address environmental pollution with measures to reduce the affordability barriers that prevent some households from switching to cleaner cooking fuels.
“Through our ‘Trash-to-Cook’ initiative, rural women exchange recyclable household waste to pay for clean gas refills.
“By turning discarded waste into currency, we address affordability, clean up the environment, and deliver clean cooking as an accessible service right to their doorsteps,” she said.
Similarly, Professor Joseph Aigbedion, Founder of Falcon Corporation and Century One, identified distribution infrastructure as a major requirement for expanding LPG access, arguing that investments in large storage facilities must be complemented by decentralised distribution networks.
He said the availability of bulk storage infrastructure would not automatically translate into wider household access without efficient systems for transporting and distributing LPG to communities.
“Building 15,000-metric-ton terminal depots is only the first step. The real challenge has always been arterial distribution, creating decentralized clusters that safely deliver clean energy directly to the women and families who need it most,” Aigbedion said.
He stressed the need to establish community-level distribution clusters that would connect large LPG storage facilities to households and other end users.
Beyond improving cylinder safety, the NCRP is expected to create investment opportunities across the domestic LPG value chain, including manufacturing, technical services, logistics, retail distribution and clean cooking infrastructure.
Its digital tracking framework is also expected to generate reliable data that could support the measurement of emissions reductions and access to climate finance, subject to applicable methodologies, verification requirements and regulatory approvals.
SON is leading the programme in collaboration with relevant government agencies and industry organisations, including the NMDPRA, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the Ministry of Women Affairs.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen coordination among government institutions, regulators and private sector operators in implementing the cylinder registration, inspection and requalification framework nationwide.
Following its national launch in Abuja, the programme is scheduled for international presentation at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 12, 2026.
Nigeria is expected to use the international platform to present its approach to LPG safety, digital traceability and clean cooking, highlighting the country’s efforts to strengthen standards and expand access to cleaner household energy.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, established under the SON Act No. 14 of 2015, is the country’s apex statutory body responsible for standardisation, quality assurance and metrology. Its mandate includes promoting product quality, enforcing standards and protecting consumers.
The National Cylinder Recirculation Programme is a national initiative led by SON in partnership with the NMDPRA, the NCCC and relevant industry bodies to strengthen LPG safety, improve digital traceability and support the development of Nigeria’s clean cooking sector.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
