Worried by the persistent incidence of circulation of expired, damaged, and uncertified liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and other problems in its supply chain, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has reiterated its commitment to addressing the menace through a structured recirculation system.

Disclosing this at a press conference in Lagos on Friday to announce the launch of the National Cylinder Recirculation Programme (NCRP), a national initiative designed to strengthen the safety, identification, traceability and lifecycle management of LPG, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, said through the NCRP, stakeholders are unifying statutory quality control with digital traceability to protect Nigerian lives and property while building consumer trust in clean energy.

The programme, initiated by SON, in partnership with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and other government and industry partners, is targeted at addressing persistent problems in the LPG supply chain, including limited access to cylinder histories and gaps in inspection and requalification records.

It was gathered that the implementation will begin with stakeholder onboarding, integration with the digital registry, and rollout activities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The national unveiling is scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2026, in Abuja, alongside the Nigeria Clean Cooking Forum 2026. An international unveiling is also planned for COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, scheduled for 9–20 November 2026.

Okeke said: “Safe and reliable LPG use depends on more than access to gas. It requires strict adherence to cylinder quality standards, responsible handling, and effective lifecycle tracking across the supply chain. Through the NCRP, we are unifying statutory quality control with digital traceability to protect Nigerian lives and property while building consumer trust in clean energy.”

A central component of the programme is the National Cylinder Registry (NCR), powered by FuelTree’s virtual Cylinder Recirculation Management System (vCRM). Using unique cylinder identities and smart QR tags, the system records cylinder movements and key lifecycle events, including distribution, refills, exchanges, inspections and requalification. These records will help participating stakeholders check cylinder status and monitor compliance requirements across the supply chain.

The Director and Chief Technology Officer at FuelTree, Femi Oye, said: “The National Cylinder Registry (NCR) connects unique cylinder identity tags with real-time lifecycle tracking. This digital infrastructure enables seamless monitoring of requalification cycles, inspection records, and carbon credit metrics as cylinders move through the supply chain.”

Also, the Lead Programme Director of the NCRP Secretariat, Dr Bekeme Olowola, said: “Translating the NCRP’s vision into practical outcomes requires seamless coordination across regulators, marketers, retailers, and requalification facilities. By linking safety compliance directly to environmental impact and climate attributes, we are creating a holistic framework that delivers domestic safety and global climate credibility.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Better Gas, the programme’s retail partner, Gbolahan Obanikoro, said: “Ensuring last-mile access requires reliable supply logistics and strong retail partnerships. Better Gas is already aligned with the objectives of the NCRP through our cylinder-swapping model and micro-distribution centres across Abuja. The programme also presents an opportunity to support cylinder requalification and expand the availability of safe cylinders in the market.”