Cooking gas hits N1,800 per kg as Abuja households face fresh pressure

Cooking gas prices have climbed to as much as N1,800 per kilogramme in parts of Abuja, forcing households to pay thousands of naira more to refill cylinders. A 12.5kg cylinder now costs up to N22,500 at the top retail rate.

The increase follows price adjustments by depot operators and retailers in the last two days. StockGap raised its depot price by N25 per kilogramme to N1,440. NIPCO, Mobil now trading as 11 Plc, and Ardova sold LPG at between N1,390 and N1,400 per kilogramme.

Retail prices vary across Abuja

In Abuja and nearby communities, retailers including Rainoil, Juda Oil and NNPC outlets sell cooking gas at between N1,550 and N1,600 per kilogramme. That is up from N1,400 to N1,500 per kilogramme previously.

Smaller LPG dealers charge more. Micro-retailers in parts of Abuja sell at N1,700 to N1,800 per kilogramme, depending on location. The gap means two households can pay different amounts for the same quantity.

What refills cost now

At N1,600 per kilogramme, a 3kg cylinder costs N4,800. At N1,800 per kilogramme, it costs N5,400.

A 5kg refill costs N8,000 at N1,600 and N9,000 at N1,800. A 6kg cylinder costs N9,600 at N1,600 and N10,800 at N1,800.

For a 12.5kg cylinder, the cost is N20,000 at N1,600 and N22,500 at N1,800. A 15kg cylinder costs N24,000 at N1,600 and N27,000 at N1,800.

A household that paid N17,500 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder at N1,400 per kilogramme now pays N20,000 at N1,600. At N1,800, the same refill costs N22,500. That is an additional N5,000.

Price warning and wider impact

NIPCO spokesperson Taofeek Lawal had earlier said LPG prices could increase between November and January 2027. Further increases would add to household expenses and pressure food vendors, restaurants and small businesses that depend on cooking gas. Cleaner cooking energy could also become less affordable for low-income households.

Separate checks in Lagos and Ogun states put cooking gas at N1,800 per kilogramme. Depot costs there rose from N1,100 to as high as N1,445 per kilogramme, a rise of N345 or 31.4%. Prices may continue to vary across locations and suppliers.

The latest cooking gas increase leaves Nigerian households with less cash for food and other essentials. For small food businesses, the higher refill cost is another operating expense to absorb or pass to customers.