Cooking gas prices set to spike as LPG shortage enters second week in Lagos
By Aboki Forex —
Cooking gas prices are under fresh pressure in Lagos as a shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at major depots enters its second week. Only one depot, Techno Oil, is still active, selling at about N1,275 per kilogram as of Friday. That is up from the previous average of N1,200.
Industry operators say the disruption is linked to supply constraints at depots in Lagos, Nigeria’s main LPG hub. Loading operations have been hampered for roughly two weeks, limiting the amount of gas available for retailers.
Sources in the market confirm that the supply crunch is already affecting product availability in parts of the commercial capital. Marketers report they cannot load the desired quantities for retail sales.
Downstream players warn that retail prices could rise sharply. Some predict the price could hit N2,000 per kilogram if the trend continues.
A marketer who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "This shortage is making the market tight already, and it is set to become tighter if supply inflow continues to fall."
Market operators link the volatility to global factors. These include costly imports, shipping delays, and tight product availability that are passed on to Nigeria’s LPG supply chain.
Lagos is the largest distribution hub for LPG in the country. Disruptions here often spread to other regions because many loading centres draw supply from the city.
Analysts warn that a prolonged scarcity will worsen market woes. Households and businesses are already struggling with higher energy costs and widespread inflation.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirms the trend. The average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder rose from N6,395.82 in September to N8,081.75. Some states pay far more. Borno leads with the highest average price at N19,391.57 for a 5kg refill, followed by Yobe at N19,339.51 and Ondo at N19,289.65.