Nigerians are once again feeling the heat — and not just from their stoves! The price of cooking gas (LPG) has surged dramatically across the country, with many households now paying as much as ₦3,200 per kilogram.
The hike comes even after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) suspended its nationwide strike, raising serious questions about why prices remain sky-high.
Across major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, the cost of refilling a 12.5kg gas cylinder has jumped from about ₦12,750 to between ₦16,500 and ₦18,000 — a staggering increase within days!
According to reports, depot prices are also inconsistent:
Some depots are selling at ₦910–₦920 per kg,
While others, including Dangote, have pegged their retail price around ₦810 per kg.
Despite hopes that the suspension of the PENGASSAN strike would stabilize supply, prices have not returned to normal levels.
Experts and energy analysts have pointed to several factors fueling the crisis:
The industrial action by oil and gas workers disrupted refining and distribution, leaving many LPG trucks stranded.
Even after operations resumed, transportation delays and loading bottlenecks created artificial shortages in the market. Some retailers and depot owners are taking advantage of the situation to increase profits — deepening consumer frustration.
Reduced domestic production and delayed imports have limited available supply, pushing prices even higher.
The spike in gas prices has hit families hard. Many low-income households are now switching back to charcoal and firewood, reversing years of progress toward clean cooking energy.
Traders, restaurant owners, and food vendors also lament the surge, saying it’s affecting their profits and forcing them to raise food prices — worsening inflation across the country.
“We’re suffering. Gas is now like gold. How can an average Nigerian survive when even cooking a meal has become luxury?” – a Lagos resident told Daily Gist & Guide.
The NNPCL (Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited) has attributed the spike to the strike’s ripple effects and has promised to stabilize supply in the coming weeks. However, consumers remain skeptical, demanding stronger regulation of depot and retail pricing.
💡 What Can Be Done
Fast-track LPG supply and distribution nationwide.
Enforce price monitoring to stop artificial inflation.
Support local gas production to reduce import dependence.
Offer subsidies or relief for low-income earners relying on cooking gas.
The current surge in cooking gas prices is a painful reminder of Nigeria’s fragile energy market. Until sustainable supply chains and transparent pricing systems are in place, Nigerians may continue to face gas shortages and high living costs.
For now, families are forced to make hard choices — between clean energy and affordable meals.
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