Marketers of liquefied petroleum gas, known as cooking gas, have explained the real reason for the continuous price surge in the last three weeks across Nigeria.

The spokespersons of the Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, NOGASA and Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company Plc, NIPCO, Chinedu Ukadike and Taofeek Lawal, respectively, in separate interviews with DAILY POST on Monday, blamed the LPG price hike on seasonal challenge, a surge in demand, and scarcity.

DAILY POST reports that cooking gas prices rose between 40 and 66 percent to N1,400 per kilogram and N2,000 per kg from N1,000 and N1,200 in Abuja and its environs.

The hike further worsened the misery Nigerians already face with high cost of living pressures, with headline and food inflation at 26.50 percent and 16.09 percent in April 2026.

The development worsened the problem of the affordability of cooking gas among the majority of Nigerians, who are hit with an increased burden despite a meager N70,000 minimum wage.

In his reaction, Ukadike attributed the recent increase in the price of cooking gas to seasonal demand and supply constraints, expressing confidence that prices will decline as more operators enter the market.

He explained that the rainy season often triggers a rise in demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, as many households move away from using firewood.

“It’s because of demand now. You know, it’s the rainy season,” Ukadike said.

According to him, the increase in demand during the rainy season places pressure on available supplies.

“Once it comes to the rainy season, all firewood goes off. It’s seasonal. That’s the way it works,” he stated.

Ukadike also pointed to supply constraints and the scarcity of alternative household fuels as factors driving the price increase.

Despite the current hike, the NOGASA spokesperson said market forces would eventually bring prices down.

“It will come down naturally,” he said.

Asked when consumers could expect a reduction in prices, Ukadike said increased participation by more gas companies would help improve supply and stabilize the market.

“There are more gas companies that are also trying to come on board. So, I also believe it will come down,” he told DAILY POST.

He maintained that the entry of additional operators such as Dangote Refinery remains one of the key solutions to the current price pressure, expressing optimism that cooking gas prices will ease as supply improves.

On his part, Lawal explained that the current LPG price hike is largely driven by an imbalance between available products and the growing number of consumers.

According to him, there are currently fewer LPG products in the market to serve a large customer base, creating pressure on prices.

“It is basically a supply issue. There are few products for a large number of customers,” he said.

Lawal noted that addressing the price surge would require a significant improvement in supply levels to meet the increasing demand for cooking gas.

“The solution is to improve supply to meet the growing demand,” he told DAILY POST