Cooking Gas Costs Skyrocket: 12.5kg Cylinder Prices Up 58.68% In A Year

Regional disparities in cooking gas prices are evident across Nigeria. Rivers State recorded the highest average price for a 12.5kg cylinder at ₦17,895.00, closely followed by Osun at ₦17,739.06 and Benue at ₦17,731.25. On the other hand, Katsina reported the lowest price at ₦14,725.00, with Nasarawa and Adamawa also on the lower end at ₦15,390.55 and ₦15,474.21, respectively. The South-South region had the highest regional average price at ₦17,114.67, while the North-Central region saw the lowest at ₦16,411.19.

The cost of refilling smaller 5kg cylinders has also risen dramatically, with a year-on-year increase of 51.58% from ₦4,562.51 in October 2023 to ₦6,915.69 in October 2024. The North-East region had the highest average price for 5kg cylinders at ₦7,319.03, while the North-West reported the lowest regional average at ₦6,703.95.

Nigerians are feeling the pinch of these price hikes. Mr. Femi Adesida, a businessman and father of four, said he has had to adjust his budget to accommodate the increased cost of cooking gas. “If I spend close to ₦17,000 to buy gas alone, then meeting needs becomes a challenge; especially when your income has not increased. Government’s intervention is urgently needed at this time so Nigerians can breathe because we are not breathing,” he told newsmen.

Mrs. Funmilola Aderibigbe, a trader, noted that the high prices have forced many households to revert to traditional cooking methods like using charcoal stoves. “Nigerians are really suffering, it is time for the government to listen and hear the cries of Nigerians,” she said.

Experts say the continuous rise in cooking gas prices is putting additional strain on households already grappling with increases in food and transportation costs. They argue that the solution lies in the federal government boosting local LPG production and addressing foreign exchange issues to make importing the product more affordable and accessible for Nigerians.

As the cost of this essential household commodity continues to climb, Nigerians are anxiously awaiting government action to alleviate the burden on their finances and make cooking gas more affordable for all.