Cooking gas prices surge over 60% since May, pushing Nigerians back to firewood

Cooking gas prices have soared more than 60% across Nigeria since May, forcing many families to abandon LPG and return to firewood and charcoal. The latest depot price increases have raised fears of another nationwide retail surge, worsening the burden on households already battling inflation.

Prices double in weeks

Data from the market shows that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices have climbed from around N1,100 per kilogram in early May to over N2,400 per kilogram in several locations. The sharp rise has pushed many low-income families to switch to cheaper, dirtier cooking fuels.

Global tensions drive costs

Industry experts blame the persistent increase on the worsening global energy crisis. Rising tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have disrupted supply chains. On Thursday, June 11, 2026, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz after fresh U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets. The strait handles a large percentage of global crude exports daily.

Brent crude rose 1.40% to $94.40 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained 1.58% to $91.45 per barrel. Analysts warn that further military escalation could push fuel and gas prices even higher.

Depot prices adjust upward

Latest data from PetroleumPriceNG shows that depot operators have raised prices. NAVGAS increased its LPG price by N105 per kilogram to N1,380. A.Y.M Shafa raised its rate by N10 to N1,360. NIPCO Lagos maintained its price at N1,380. Techno Oil offers one of the lowest depot prices at N1,250 per kilogram. These depot rates will likely shape retail prices across states in the coming days.

Experts call for government support

Financial analyst Osas Igho said the crisis is stretching household incomes. “The current rates reflect the changing dynamics in the global energy market, but are severely straining household incomes nationwide,” he said. Igho urged the federal government to consider temporary LPG subsidies to cushion the impact on low-income families and prevent more households from abandoning cleaner cooking energy.

The latest increase comes as Nigerians face rising food prices, transport costs, and electricity challenges. Many fear the cooking gas crisis could worsen in the weeks ahead. Earlier reports showed that cooking gas now sells for as high as N2,000 per kilogram in parts of Abuja, compared to around N1,200 earlier this year.