Nigerians across major cities are grappling with a sharp rise in the price of cooking gas, as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) now sells for as much as N2,400 per kilogramme in some areas.
The increase is adding to the growing cost-of-living crisis already driven by soaring food prices, transportation costs, and inflation, forcing many households to return to using firewood and charcoal for cooking.
Checks at retail outlets showed that while some filling stations sold cooking gas for between N1,650 and N1,900 per kilogramme, neighbourhood retailers and black-market vendors charged significantly higher prices depending on location.
Residents in cities such as Ibadan, Lagos, and Ilorin expressed frustration over the continuous increases.
A housewife in Ibadan, Deborah Akintola, said she bought gas at N1,600 per kilogramme just a week earlier, but prices had already climbed close to N2,000 in some outlets.
“In May, it was around N1,000 per kilogramme. Everything is becoming too expensive, including food,” she lamented.
Another resident, Mary Dada, described the constant fluctuations as exhausting, saying the price seems to rise almost every month.
In Lagos, Ibrahim Ozigis said he paid N1,650 per kilogramme this month compared to N1,100 in May, while other residents complained that the rising costs were changing cooking habits at home.
“It has become difficult to cook meals that require long hours, like beans, because of how expensive gas is now,” one resident said.
In Ilorin, some families said they had abandoned cooking gas entirely and switched back to charcoal because it appeared cheaper and more affordable.
Despite increased domestic production of LPG and reduced dependence on imports, prices have continued to rise. Industry stakeholders blame erratic supply, transportation costs, and operational expenses for the persistent hikes.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers warned that the situation could worsen and possibly lead to scarcity if urgent measures are not taken.
According to the association, marketers now pay between N25.2 million and N26.2 million for 20 metric tonnes of cooking gas, making it difficult to maintain affordable retail prices.
Gas retailers also pointed to transportation costs as a major factor. One reseller explained that after purchasing gas at wholesale prices, additional expenses for transport and logistics leave little choice but to increase prices for consumers.
The continued rise in cooking gas prices is worsening economic hardship for millions of Nigerians, especially low-income households and small businesses already struggling to survive.
