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The short answer
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) puts the lifespan of an LPG cylinder at 15 years from manufacture, with requalification every five years, and has urged refill plants to reject expired cylinders. The date is usually stamped as month/year after 'T.D' or 'Test Date' on the handle ring or foot ring; add 15 years to the manufacture year to find when it expires.
Gas fires and explosions at homes and refill plants are reported regularly in Nigeria, and some involve old or damaged cylinders, or leaks during refilling. Two checks take less than a minute: the date stamped on the cylinder and its physical condition.
How long a cylinder lasts
A SON management document quoted by The ICIR in 2021 states: 'Life span of LPG cylinder in Nigeria is 15 years.' SON's formula is simple: year of manufacture + 15 years. Its example: a cylinder embossed 2006 expired in 2021.
At a 2021 workshop in Lagos reported by Shippingposition, SON officials said the average lifespan is 15 years with requalification every five years, and that cylinders made in the 1970s are still in circulation. Requalification means the cylinder is inspected and tested so it can stay in use; if it passes, a new test date is stamped.
How to read the date stamp
- Look at the metal ring around the valve (the handle or shroud) and the foot ring at the base.
- Find a marking such as T.D, T.Date or Test Date. 'T' stands for test.
- Read the date, usually written as month/year, for example 05/2016.
- If there are two dates, the later one is a recertification.
- Work out expiry: manufacture year + 15. If the cylinder was made in 2012, it reaches 15 years in 2027.
Other markings to look for
SON's head of LPG said in 2021 that cylinders must carry the manufacturer's or importer's name or logo, that imported cylinders need a SON registration number, and that locally made cylinders need a MANCAP number. These marks are for traceability, so a cylinder with none of them is harder to trust.
A useful habit is to write the expiry year on a piece of masking tape on the cylinder, or in your phone's notes, the first time you check. Then you only need to glance at it at each refill rather than hunting for the stamp.
Who is responsible
SON has urged refill plants to reject expired or substandard cylinders brought for refilling, and directed that expired cylinders be withdrawn for recycling. In practice, plants are busy and checks vary, so the owner is the last line of defence. SON officials also warned that used cylinders are brought in, refurbished and sold as new, so check the date even on a cylinder that looks freshly painted.
Safety checks at every refill
- Body: no deep dents, bulges, heavy rust or fire damage. An expanded or misshapen cylinder should not be refilled.
- Valve: turns smoothly and closes fully; no hissing when closed.
- Hose and regulator: no cracks, brittleness or loose clips; replace a hose that has hardened.
- Leak test: brush soapy water over the valve and hose joints with the gas on; bubbles mean a leak. Never use a flame.
- Weight: watch the scale so you are not overfilled or underfilled.
At home
- Keep the cylinder upright, outdoors or in a ventilated space, away from heat and electrical sockets.
- Close the cylinder valve, not only the cooker knobs, after cooking.
- If you smell gas: do not switch lights or appliances on or off, open windows, close the valve, and move everyone outside.
What to do with an expired cylinder
Do not keep refilling it. SON directed that expired cylinders be withdrawn for recycling, and has urged plants not to fill them. Ask your refill plant or cylinder seller whether they take old cylinders for disposal or offer an exchange. Do not cut, burn or puncture a cylinder yourself, even when you think it is empty; residual gas can ignite.
Cylinder exchange schemes
Some sellers run swap schemes where you hand over an empty cylinder and take a filled one. They save time, but you lose control of which cylinder you get. Check the date stamp and condition of the one you receive just as carefully as you would your own, and refuse one that is past its 15 years or shows no markings.
Small cylinders and camping gas
The same rules apply to 3kg and 5kg cylinders. Small cylinders are often carried around and dropped, so check the foot ring and valve for damage more often.
Buying or replacing a cylinder
- Check the date stamp and markings before paying.
- Ask the seller whether it is new or requalified, and get a receipt.
- Avoid cylinders with no visible manufacturer or registration marks.
- Budget for replacement: an expired cylinder is a real cost, not an optional upgrade.
Where Pryme fits
A replacement cylinder is a planned expense once you know its expiry year; a Naira Savings Box lets you put money aside ahead of time, and a Personal Assistant can remind you of the expiry year. For refill costs, see 12.5kg refill prices in Lagos cooking gas price per kg and, for planning one-off costs like this, how to save when inflation is high.
Questions people ask
How do I know if my gas cylinder has expired?
Find the test date marked T.D, T.Date or Test Date on the handle ring or foot ring, then add 15 years to the manufacture year. SON puts cylinder lifespan in Nigeria at 15 years.
How often should a gas cylinder be tested in Nigeria?
SON officials have said cylinders should be requalified every five years within a 15-year lifespan.
Can a refill plant refuse to fill my cylinder?
Yes. SON has urged plants to reject expired or substandard cylinders brought for refilling.
How do I check my gas cylinder for leaks?
Brush soapy water over the valve and hose joints with the gas on. Bubbles show a leak. Never use a flame, and close the valve if you smell gas.
Sources
- The ICIR: How to identify expired LPG steel cylinders – Expert, SON (4 Sep 2021) · accessed Oct 2026
- Shippingposition: Reject expired LPG cylinders, SON urges gas plants (11 Oct 2021) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.