Cooking Gas Crisis Deepens: Prices Hit N2,400/kg, Households Return to Charcoal, Firewood

Nigeria’s cooking gas crisis is worsening. Fresh scarcity has driven prices sharply higher across Lagos, Abuja and several other states. Many households are abandoning Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for charcoal and firewood.

Retailers and marketers say the situation remains dire despite the arrival of new LPG shipments. They warn that prices may continue rising if urgent government intervention fails to materialise. In many neighbourhood retail outlets, cooking gas now sells for as much as N2,400 per kilogramme. Consumers are struggling with soaring energy costs amid worsening economic hardship.

Shortages persist despite new cargoes

The Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Association of Nigeria, Ayobami Olarinoye, said retailers were still battling severe shortages. A slight improvement followed the arrival of an LPG vessel in late May. But according to him, many plant operators either lack sufficient products or prefer to sell directly to end users. This makes it difficult for retailers to restock.

“The cooking gas situation remains almost the same. Supply improved slightly after a shipment arrived in late May, but prices remain very high,” Olarinoye said.

He disclosed that another LPG cargo arrived on June 3. He alleged that the product was reserved mainly for the company’s retail outlets instead of being distributed to independent marketers. He explained that access to products has become increasingly difficult in recent weeks. Only a few gas plants have stock available for retailers.

“Out of every 10 plants, only one or two have products to sell to retailers. Many prefer to sell directly to consumers,” he added.

Price surge hits households hard

The scarcity has triggered a sharp increase in prices nationwide. A survey showed that while some filling stations still sold gas between N1,650 and N1,700 per kilogramme, several neighbourhood retailers charged between N2,200 and N2,400 per kilogramme. Transportation and operating costs are to blame.

An Ibadan-based retailer, Opeyemi Olaire, blamed the high prices on logistics expenses. “If I buy gas at N1,700 and spend heavily on transportation, there is no way I can sell cheaply,” he explained.

As prices continue to climb, many Nigerians say they can no longer afford cooking gas. A Lagos resident, Desire Billy, lamented that LPG had become too expensive for average households. “It has gotten to the point where you buy gas and avoid cooking foods that consume too much energy. Coal pots are gradually returning to kitchens,” she said.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, residents said they had completely switched to charcoal because of the rising cost of LPG. “The price is unbearable. We have stopped using gas entirely,” a resident, Kemisola Nitta, said.

Industry warns of deeper crisis

Industry players warned that the crisis could worsen if authorities fail to address supply bottlenecks and alleged hoarding by terminal operators. Marketers also expressed concerns that some locally produced LPG is being exported to neighbouring countries for foreign exchange earnings instead of being supplied to the domestic market.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers said the rising cost of LPG was already causing severe hardship for households, food vendors and small businesses across the country. The association warned that continued scarcity and soaring prices could reverse years of progress made in promoting clean cooking energy in Nigeria.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigerians are facing fresh pressure on household budgets as cooking gas prices continue to rise across major cities. Some consumers now pay as much as N2,000 per kilogramme amid growing supply shortages and rising operational costs. A market survey conducted on Monday, May 25, 2026, showed significant increases in the price of LPG across parts of Lagos, Ogun, Abuja and other states. The latest hikes have sparked concerns among consumers and industry stakeholders. Many fear that the situation could deteriorate further if urgent measures are not taken.

Source: Legit.ng