The SON initiative introduces digital identification and a national cylinder registry to track gas cylinders, strengthen safety compliance and remove expired, damaged and uncertified cylinders from circulation.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has launched a national cylinder tracking initiative aimed at improving the safety of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), strengthening regulatory oversight and protecting consumers from the dangers associated with unsafe gas cylinders.
The initiative, known as the National Cylinder Recirculation Programme (NCRP), was announced on Friday, October 23, 2026, at SON’s operational headquarters in Lagos.
The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and other government and industry stakeholders.
The initiative is designed to address longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s LPG supply chain, including the circulation of expired, damaged and uncertified cylinders, inadequate access to cylinder histories, and gaps in inspection and requalification records.
A major component of the programme is the National Cylinder Registry (NCR), powered by FuelTree’s virtual Cylinder Recirculation Management System (vCRM).
The digital platform assigns unique identities and smart QR tags to gas cylinders, enabling their movements and lifecycle activities to be monitored.
These records will cover distribution, refilling, cylinder exchanges, inspections and requalification, providing regulators and participating industry operators with improved access to information about cylinder safety and compliance.
The system is also expected to strengthen accountability among gas marketers, retailers and approved cylinder requalification facilities by making it easier to identify cylinders that require inspection or maintenance.
SON Director-General, Ifeanyi Okeke, emphasised that safe LPG consumption requires more than access to cooking gas. He highlighted the importance of complying with quality standards, handling cylinders responsibly and maintaining effective systems for tracking cylinders throughout their useful life.
According to him, the programme combines statutory quality control with digital traceability to protect lives and property while building public confidence in clean energy.
The circulation of damaged, expired and uncertified gas cylinders remains a significant safety concern because defective equipment can increase the risk of gas leaks, fires and other accidents.
Through the NCRP, participating stakeholders will be able to monitor cylinder status and access compliance information, helping them identify cylinders that require further assessment before being returned to circulation.
The initiative is expected to improve coordination across the LPG value chain and strengthen efforts to ensure that cylinders meet applicable safety requirements.
Beyond improving cylinder safety, the programme is intended to support Nigeria’s transition towards cleaner household cooking.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas is increasingly promoted as an alternative to traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, charcoal and kerosene. By improving confidence in the safety and reliability of LPG equipment, the programme aims to support wider adoption of cleaner cooking options.
The initiative also seeks to establish data that could support carbon-credit generation through verified reductions in the use of traditional cooking fuels. Any carbon credits generated under the programme would be subject to approved methodologies, independent verification and applicable regulatory requirements.
SON indicated that revenue from such mechanisms could potentially help improve access to gas cylinders and reduce refill costs for vulnerable households, depending on the programme’s financing arrangements.
The programme leadership has stressed the importance of coordination among regulators, technology providers, gas marketers, retailers and other participants in the LPG industry.
Bekeme Olowola, the programme director and managing director of FuelTree, highlighted the importance of translating the initiative’s objectives into practical results across the supply chain.
The involvement of industry stakeholders will be important in ensuring that cylinder identification, inspections, requalification and tracking are effectively integrated into daily operations.
For households and businesses that depend on cooking gas, the introduction of a national cylinder registry could improve transparency and strengthen confidence in cylinder safety.
Consumers should continue to ensure that their cylinders, valves, regulators and connecting hoses are in good condition and that any necessary inspection or requalification is handled by qualified and authorised personnel.
The launch represents a step towards strengthening Nigeria’s LPG safety framework. Its long-term impact will depend on effective implementation, public awareness, industry compliance and sustained regulatory oversight.
Read also El-Rufai’s Son Dumps APC, Defects To ADC Ahead Of 2027 Elections
