Many Nigerian households are feeling the pressure of rising cooking gas prices, with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) now selling for as much as N2,400 per kilogramme in some parts of the country.
The latest increase has added to the burden on families already grappling with high food prices and rising living costs, forcing some to abandon cooking gas for alternatives such as charcoal and firewood.
A survey conducted by Sunday PUNCH showed that while some filling stations sold cooking gas between N1,650 and N1,900 per kilogramme, prices were significantly higher at neighbourhood retail outlets, where consumers paid as much as N2,400 depending on location.
In Ibadan, residents expressed frustration over the steady rise.
A housewife, Deborah Akintola, said she bought gas at N1,600 per kilogramme just last week but was shocked to discover prices had risen sharply within days.
“Last week, I bought gas at Iyana Church Gasland for N1,600 per kilogramme. Now it’s selling for N1,900 and even above N2,000 in some places. In May, it was around N1,000. The increase is becoming unbearable. Food prices are already high, and now gas is following the same trend,” she said.
At Bovas Filling Station in the Gbagi area of Ibadan, the product sold for N1,650 per kilogramme on Thursday.
Another resident, Mary Dada, described the frequent price adjustments as exhausting.
“I honestly don’t understand why the price keeps going up. Every month comes with a new increase. It’s frustrating,” she said.
The situation is no different in Lagos.
A resident of Iju-Ishaga, Ibrahim Ozigis, said he recently bought cooking gas at N1,650 per kilogramme at an Enyo filling station, compared to N1,100 in May.
For Desire Billy, who lives in Isheri-Osun, the rising cost is forcing many families to rethink their cooking habits.
“It has reached a point where you can’t even use gas to cook certain meals like beans because of the cost. Last week, I bought gas at N1,500 per kilogramme. Back in February, it was N1,200. The price just keeps rising,” she said.
In Ilorin, Kwara State, some residents have already turned to charcoal.
One resident, Kemisola Nitta, said several gas dealers had suspended sales due to uncertainty over prices.
“We’ve stopped using gas and switched to charcoal. For now, it’s the cheaper option,” she said.
The continued increase in cooking gas prices comes despite a rise in domestic LPG production and a reduction in imports.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that local refineries and gas processing plants supplied most of the LPG consumed between April 2025 and April 2026.
However, the increase in local production has not translated into lower prices for consumers.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers recently warned of supply challenges and rising costs, raising concerns about a possible shortage.
In a statement signed by its National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Bassey Essien, the association disclosed that marketers currently pay between N25.2 million and N26.2 million for 20 metric tonnes of LPG.
“The citizens of Nigeria now have to buy cooking gas, which should be a social commodity, at a prohibitive cost of over N1,500 per kilogramme,” the association said.
The group warned that the situation could undermine government efforts to promote cleaner energy sources and increase LPG usage across the country.
Gas retailer Opeyemi Olaire blamed the high prices on transportation and operational expenses.
“I sell at N2,400 per kilogramme. If I buy from Gasland at N1,700 and spend another N600 transporting it by motorcycle, how much do people expect me to sell it for? The government needs to find a way to reduce the cost,” she said.
With prices continuing to climb, many low-income households and small businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to cope, further deepening the cost-of-living crisis across the country.
