Nigeria launches national program to track and recirculate gas cylinders

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) launched the National Cylinder Recirculation Programme (NCRP) in Abuja to manage liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.

This initiative aims to stop the spread of expired or substandard units across the country by creating a coordinated system to register, inspect, and track every cylinder in the nation. The program involves a 2.27 trillion naira investment to deploy at least 43 million certified cylinders and build 42 Authorized Requalification Facilities (ARFs) across all six geopolitical zones.

Every cylinder will receive a unique QR code and be entered into a National Cylinder Registry. This digital tracking allows regulators to monitor a cylinder from its manufacture through its distribution and maintenance history. When customers return cylinders through approved retail channels, the ARFs will test them against national quality standards. Units that pass these tests will return to the market, while defective ones will be seized for repair or safe disposal.

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment says the project will create thousands of skilled jobs and improve industrial growth. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria is working with several agencies, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC). Nigeria plans to share this digital safety framework with the international community at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye.