By Samuel Solomon
Nigerians in major cities are groaning under the rising cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly called cooking gas, as the price has surged to as high as N2,400 per kilogramme in some retail outlets.
The sharp increase has worsened the hardship faced by households already battling soaring food prices and other living costs, pushing many to revert to less environmentally friendly alternatives such as firewood and charcoal.
It was observed that, while some filling stations sold the product at between N1,650 and N1,900 per kilogramme, neighbourhood retailers and black market operators charged significantly higher, up to N2,400 per kg depending on the location.
Despite a significant increase in domestic production of LPG and reduced reliance on imports, prices have continued to climb.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that local production from refineries and gas processing plants accounted for the bulk of supply between April 2025 and April 2026.
However, this has not translated into lower costs for consumers.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers raised the alarm over erratic supply and rising costs, warning of possible scarcity.
In a statement signed by its National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Bassey Essien, the association said marketers now pay between N25.2 million and N26.2 million for 20 metric tonnes of the product.
“The citizens of Nigeria now have to buy cooking gas, which should be a social commodity, at a prohibitive cost of over N1,500 per kilogramme,” the association stated.
NALPGAM warned that the situation could trigger public unrest and undermine years of government efforts to promote clean cooking energy through increased LPG penetration.
The persistent rise in cooking gas prices is compounding the cost-of-living crisis, with many low-income families and small businesses struggling to cope.
