Cooking Gas Crisis Deepens as LPG Price Surges to ₦1,400/kg Across Nigeria

Cooking Gas Crisis Deepens as LPG Price Surges to ₦1,400/kg Across Nigeria

Nigerians, especially urban residents, are facing renewed economic pressure as the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has risen sharply to an average of about ₦1,400 per kilogram, up from around ₦1,000/kg in early March 2026. The development represents a 40 per cent increase within two months, worsening the cost of living for middle- and low-income households already struggling with inflation and rising energy costs.

The surge in cooking gas prices in Nigeria is happening alongside increases in other energy products. Petrol now sells between ₦1,345 and ₦1,400 per litre in Lagos and Abuja depending on location and filling station, while diesel has climbed to between ₦1,900 and ₦2,000 per litre, further deepening household financial strain.

Market data shows that households are already feeling the impact. A survey indicates that a 6kg cylinder of gas now costs about ₦8,400, while a 12kg refill sells for between ₦16,800 and ₦18,000 in many parts of the country, depending on the outlet and location.

The rising cost of LPG in Nigeria has significantly weakened purchasing power, forcing many families to cut consumption or switch to alternative cooking methods such as firewood and kerosene. In several urban areas, households are adjusting daily routines to cope with the increasing cost of energy.

There has also been a noticeable rise in the promotion and use of smokeless charcoal cooking stoves, which vendors are marketing as cheaper alternatives to gas. Some sellers claim the stoves cook as fast as gas, produce less smoke, and reduce household cooking expenses by up to 50 per cent, attracting increasing interest from struggling families.

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Residents across Lagos have continued to express frustration over the rising costs. A resident of Ketu, Mrs. Susan Adedayo, said she was shocked to discover that her 12kg gas refill had risen to ₦16,800, compared to ₦13,200 just a month earlier, describing the situation as unbearable for average households.

Another resident in Ojodu, Ms. Adetutu, said she now compares prices across different outlets due to constant fluctuations. She noted that she bought gas at ₦1,250 per kg, while other stations charged up to ₦1,400. She added that prices had moved from ₦700 per kg in January to ₦900 in March, warning that further increases appear likely.

Industry experts say the price hike is being driven by rising depot costs, supply shortages, and global energy pressures. The ex-depot price of LPG has reportedly increased by about 16.7 per cent to ₦21 million per 20 metric tonnes, up from around ₦18 million within weeks, forcing retailers to adjust prices upward.

The National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Inyang Edu, confirmed the price surge and linked it to multiple structural issues affecting supply and pricing in the domestic market.

He explained that domestic supply from key producers such as the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has been insufficient to meet growing demand, leading to increased dependence on imports and higher costs.

Edu also pointed to global market pressures, noting that the Middle East crisis has affected crude oil prices and, by extension, LPG costs. He added that foreign exchange challenges linked to imports are further increasing the price of petroleum products across the board.

With energy costs rising simultaneously across cooking gas, petrol, and diesel, analysts warn that Nigerian households are facing a worsening energy inflation crisis. Many consumers are now calling for urgent government intervention to stabilise LPG supply, strengthen local production, and reduce reliance on imports to ease the burden on citizens.

Cooking Gas Crisis Deepens as LPG Price Surges to ₦1,400/kg Across Nigeria