Nigerian households dey suffer as cooking gas price continue to climb for major cities, making many people to tink about their energy choices because of economic hardship. Recent market checks show say cooking gas now dey sell between N1,800 and N2,000 per kilogram for places like Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ilorin, and Port Harcourt. To refill 12.5kg cylinder, you go spend between N22,500 and N25,000, wey dey put heavy burden on millions of households wey already dey struggle with cost of living crisis.
Dis development come at a difficult time as families celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, a period wey cooking activities and household spending dey increase. Many consumers dey express frustration over the persistent price increase, describing am as a major setback to Nigeria’s clean energy transition agenda. Dem argue say the rising cost of cooking gas dey make am difficult for ordinary Nigerians to continue using LPG, wey government and private sector don promote as safer and cleaner alternative to firewood, charcoal, and kerosene.
A gas retailer for Lagos, Thomas Adibe, say supply shortages don compound the problem, leading to panic buying and further price increases. According to am, many gas stations don struggle to get adequate supplies for recent days despite efforts to restock. The situation don leave consumers with limited options and expose dem to higher costs.
Consumers across the country say the continuous increase for cooking gas prices reflect the broader economic difficulties wey dey confront Nigerians. For many low-income families, to refill a cooking gas cylinder don become expensive work wey dey consume significant portion of monthly income. Mrs. Idiat Adetayo, a trader for Lagos, describe the current situation as alarming, noting say many households dey forced to cut down on gas usage because dem no fit afford regular refills. She say the rapid increase for prices don leave families with difficult choices between spending on food, transportation, and cooking fuel.
Similarly, Mr. Basiru Balogun, a printer, lament say the high cost of energy don make life difficult for both households and businesses. According to am, rising energy costs dey reduce profitability for small enterprises while increasing living expenses for ordinary citizens. A civil servant for Ilorin, Mrs. N20,000 no enough. She tok say, ‘The last time I went to refill the cylinder, I spent N17,000 but on Sallah Day I wanted to refill the same cylinder, I was told it is N22,000. I had to buy what the N20,000 I was holding could buy. It is really unfortunate.’
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) don warn say continued increases for cooking gas prices fit trigger widespread public dissatisfaction if urgent interventions no dey implemented. The association note say marketers dey contend with high depot prices, supply shortages, logistics challenges, and increasing operational costs. LPG depending on location, dey significantly increase the cost of supplying consumers. NALPGAM say the rising cost of LPG don inflict severe hardship on households, food vendors, and small businesses wey depend on cooking gas for daily operations.
The group warn say many families fit forced to return to use of firewood and charcoal if prices continue to rise beyond dem reach. According to the association, such a trend go undermine years of efforts wey aim to promote clean cooking energy across the country. E stress say government campaigns wey dey encourage adoption of LPG dey at risk as affordability continue to decline.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, attribute recurring scarcity and rising prices partly to inadequate competition within the sector. E urge government authorities to liberalise the market and create opportunities for more operators to participate for LPG business.
Economic analyst and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr. Muda Yusuf, say affordable cooking gas dey critical to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development. E argue say government should consider measures wey go make LPG more accessible to consumers and support wider adoption of clean energy.
Meanwhile, nearly 1 billion people for Africa still lack access to clean cooking solutions. Dis revelation come as the African Development Bank Group’s Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility unveil a new EUR 25 million Clean Cooking Program at the AfDB 2026 Annual Meetings. Lorenzo Ortona, Deputy Coordinator of the Mission Structure for the Mattei Plan at the Office of the Italian Prime Minister, disclose dis for im opening remarks at the meeting. E say, ‘Clean cooking is a strategic priority for the Italian Government’s Mattei Plan for Africa, representing one of the most urgent and transformative challenges we face today. Nearly one billion people in Africa still lack access to clean cooking solutions, with serious consequences for health, gender equality and economic development.’ The RPFF provide an impactful financial platform wey leverage strategic partnership and enable co-designing and co-financing, to address key drivers of fragility, climate vulnerability, and irregular migration.
Also speaking, Dr Daniel Schroth, Director of the Department of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank, announce the Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility (RPFF) Clean Cooking Program (RCCP) with an initial EUR 25 million envelope.
