Fueling The Fire: Nigerians Struggle With Unbearable Cooking Gas Price Hikes Details

This price surge is raising alarms among households and businesses that depend on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for daily cooking, especially as many Nigerians are already grappling with soaring food prices, inflation, and increasing electricity costs.

The price of a typical 12.5kg cylinder, which was around ₦8,000–₦9,000 in early 2023, has now jumped to between ₦13,000 and ₦14,000, making it increasingly unaffordable for many low- and middle-income earners.

Key Factors Behind the Price Surge:

Industry experts cite several factors contributing to the rise in LPG prices, including:

• Rising Global Gas Prices: International LPG prices have steadily increased, affecting import-dependent countries like Nigeria.

• Foreign Exchange Crisis: The naira’s depreciation against the dollar has significantly raised the cost of importing gas.

• Limited Domestic Supply: Despite Nigeria being a major gas producer, local supply remains insufficient, leading to greater reliance on imports.

• High Distribution Costs: Increased transportation and logistics costs, exacerbated by rising fuel prices, have further driven up the price.

Government’s Response and Potential Relief:

The Federal Government has acknowledged the steep rise in cooking gas prices and has vowed to intervene to stabilize the market. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has hinted at potential policy changes to boost local production and reduce the nation’s reliance on imports.

There have also been suggestions from industry stakeholders to remove import duties on LPG and provide incentives to local producers to encourage investment in domestic gas production and distribution.

Nigerians Explore Alternatives:

With cooking gas prices soaring, many households are turning to cheaper alternatives such as:

• Firewood and charcoal (though less environmentally friendly),
• Kerosene stoves (which have also become more expensive),
• Electric cookers (impeded by unreliable power supply).

If this trend continues, the high cost of LPG could place even more economic strain on Nigerians, potentially forcing families to revert to more traditional cooking methods.

Price Breakdown by Cylinder Size:

• 1kg Cylinder: ₦1,100
• 3kg Cylinder: ₦3,300