Nigerians in major cities are groaning under the rising cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly called cooking gas, as the price has surged to as high as N2,400 per kilogramme in some retail outlets.

The sharp increase has worsened the hardship faced by households already battling soaring food prices and other living costs, pushing many to revert to less environmentally friendly alternatives such as firewood and charcoal.

Sunday PUNCH observed that while some filling stations sold the product at between N1,650 and N1,900 per kilogramme, neighbourhood retailers and black market operators charged significantly higher, up to N2,400 per kg depending on the location.

A housewife in Ibadan, Mrs Deborah Akintola, expressed frustration over the relentless hikes.

“Last week, I bought gas at Iyana Church Gasland at N1,600 per kilogramme. Now I hear it is N1,900 and even over N2,000 in some shops. In May, it was N1,000. This increase is just too much. Everything, including foodstuffs, is expensive,” she said.

At Bovas Filling Station in the Gbagi area of Ibadan, cooking gas was sold at N1,650 per kilogramme on Thursday.

A mother of two, Mary Dada, lamented the frequent fluctuations.

“I don’t understand why the price keeps going up. Every month, there is one increase or another. It’s just annoying,” she said.

In Lagos, residents shared similar complaints. Ibrahim Ozigis, who bought gas at Enyo Filling Station, Iju-Ishaga, said he paid N1,650 per kg this month compared to N1,100 in May.

Desire Billy, a resident of Isheri-Osun, said the rising cost was forcing many households to change their cooking habits.

“It has got to a point where you buy gas and cannot use it to cook beans. Last week, I bought it at N1,500 at AP Filling Station, whereas in February I bought it for N1,200. It keeps increasing,” she lamented.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, some residents have switched to charcoal.

Kemisola Nitta said some dealers had even suspended sales due to unstable prices.


“We have stopped using gas and opted for charcoal. I think it is cheaper,” she said.

Why prices remain high

Despite a significant increase in domestic production of LPG and reduced reliance on imports, prices have continued to climb.

Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that local production from refineries and gas processing plants accounted for the bulk of supply between April 2025 and April 2026.

However, this has not translated into lower costs for consumers.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers raised the alarm over erratic supply and rising costs, warning of possible scarcity.

In a statement signed by its National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Bassey Essien, the association said marketers now pay between N25.2 million and N26.2 million for 20 metric tonnes of the product.

“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 stated.

NALPGAM warned that the situation could trigger public unrest and undermine years of government efforts to promote clean cooking energy through increased LPG penetration.

A gas reseller in Ibadan, Opeyemi Olaire, attributed the high retail prices to transportation and operating costs.

“I sell at N2,400 per kilogramme. If I buy from Gasland at N1,700 and use an okada to transport it for N600, how much do you want me to sell it for? The government should look for a way to bring the price down,” she said.

The persistent rise in cooking gas prices is compounding the cost-of-living crisis, with many low-income families and small businesses struggling to cope.