Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) don welcome the recent reduction for cooking gas prices, but dem say the cost still dey beyond reach of many households, and dem dey urge government to take further steps to make the commodity more affordable.
Speaking at NIPCO Gas Station for Jabi, Rosemary Vincent talk say although the price of cooking gas don drop small compared to previous weeks, e still too expensive for the average Nigerian. “The price don reduce small, unlike the last time I buy gas. I pay about N1,900 per kilogram. Although e dey now N1,500 per kilogram; e still too high and don make life very difficult for many people,” she talk. She appeal to government to intervene by introducing measures that go reduce the cost of cooking gas and make am more affordable for low-income earners.
At Vegas Gas Limited, also for Jabi, another resident, Emmanuel Okeke, describe the recent drop for cooking gas prices as a positive development but note say many families still dey struggle to buy the commodity despite the drop for price. “The reduction na welcome relief because people dey pay less than dem do few weeks ago. However, the current price still high for many households. With food prices, transportation and other living expenses increasing, many families still find am difficult to refill dem gas cylinders regularly,” he talk. Okeke call on government to strengthen local production of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), improve distribution networks and reduce the cost of transporting the product across the country. According to am, increasing domestic production and ensuring steady supply of cooking gas go help stabilise prices and make the product more accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
Other residents, wey dem talk to, say the price of gas per kilogram for dem areas dey range between N1,400 and N1,500. Dem describe the reduction as relief compared to the N1,650 wey dem buy for previous weeks. One resident, Mrs Bolarinwa, talk say despite the slight reduction for cost of gas, she still dey use charcoal as alternative, describing am as cheaper. Another resident wey simply identify herself as Madam Salamotu talk say she prefer using charcoal, describing am as “stress free”. She talk say she usually buy one bag of charcoal for N11,000 for Maraba and e last for over one month compared to 3kg worth of gas wey hardly last two weeks.
One restaurant operator, Mariam, talk say the reduction for price of gas don bring some relief to her business but ask government to ensure sustainability for price of cooking gas. Check by our reporter at H-Set Cooking Gas for Idu and AA Rano Gas Plants show say the price of cooking gas don drop compared to wetin e sell for about two weeks ago. Dealers attribute the reduction to changes for market supply, while consumers talk say the decline don slightly ease pressure on household budgets.
At H-Set Cooking Gas for Idu, one representative of the outlet talk say the current price na N1,600 per kilogram, compared to N2,000 per kilogram about two weeks ago. The official note say prices dey fluctuate depending on supply from marketers but express hope say the downward trend go continue. Similarly, officials at AA Rano Gas Plant talk say the outlet don adjust dem pump price downward according to prevailing market conditions. Dem explain say although customers don welcome the reduction, many still dey buy smaller quantities because of the high cost of living.
Customers wey dem interview at the outlets describe the price reduction as encouraging but maintain say cooking gas still dey expensive for many households. Mrs Ivon Okuta, a public servant, talk say the previous increase for cooking gas prices don affect households across the country. “E go be understatement to say the hike no affect me personally. E affect almost everyone because many people, especially those wey dey live for urban areas, dey depend on gas for cooking. When dem tell me the price don rise to N2,000 per kilogram, I initially think say dem dey scam me,” she talk. According to her, salaries don remain the same despite the rising cost of essential commodities, making am difficult for many families to cope with the increasing cost of living. N15,000 two months ago, she pay N24,000 for the same quantity last month, and she spend N18,200 on her latest refill. “I still no comfortable with the current price because we really no get alternatives. When gas become expensive, the prices of kerosene, charcoal and even firewood also go up. “I urge the government to come down to the grassroots, listen to the cries of ordinary Nigerians and take practical steps to reduce the hardship wey dey face citizens. Our representatives should engage more with the people so dem fit better understand wetin families dey go through,” she talk.
Muhammed Suleiman, a civil servant, talk say the recent reduction don provide some relief but still insufficient considering the country’s current economic realities. He talk say many families don force to reduce dem gas consumption because refilling cylinders don become too expensive. Another resident, Victor Abiodun, talk say many consumers resort to rationing dem gas usage or seeking alternative cooking methods when prices reach dem peak. He urge government to sustain policies wey go make cooking gas more affordable and accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
Mr Miracle, wey visit one of the outlets to refill im cylinder, describe the price reduction as encouraging but talk say further cuts dey needed to ease the financial burden on low-income earners. Another customer, Mr Ikechukwu Anozie, an industrialist, talk say many residents don cope with previous high prices by buying smaller quantities of gas and reducing the frequency of cooking at home. He appeal to government to introduce measures wey go stabilise the LPG market and protect consumers from sharp price increases. Similarly, Chef Ufoski talk say the high cost of cooking gas don affect both households and small businesses wey dey depend on LPG for dem daily activities.
One resident of Bwari, Mr Chinedu Eze Titus, talk say the current price of one kilogram of gas na N1,700 for im area as against the previous N2,000. Eze talk say he no happy with the current price of gas, adding say the government should bring the price down to less than N1,000 per kg. “E very difficult for me. The money wey I for use buy food stuff now dey go buy gas,” he talk. Another resident of Bwari, Fidelis Obi, talk say the price of gas don drop from N1,700 to N1,400, describing the development as huge relief. He urge government to further bring down the price to accommodate the low income earners.
Joseph Yakubu, one resident, talk say though consumers still dey struggle with high prices, he happy with the reduction, while hoping and praying for more reduction. He urge government to ensure marketers comply with prevailing prices. Another resident, Ben, dey optimistic say there go be further reduction wey go make meaningful difference to household expenses. “E no enough. People still dey struggle because salaries no fit meet household expenses,” he talk. He add say government should do more to reduce the cost of living.
