Nigerians have lamented the surge in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, which has doubled in the last week due to supply shortages.
Checks by Business Post confirmed that the cost of refilling per kg has gone up 90 per cent from N1,300 to around N2,000 – N2,500 in the last week, meaning it would cost an average of N15,000 and N3o,000 to fill 6kg and 12.5kg cylinders.
According to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Mr Bassey Essien, the distribution of the product was disrupted by the recent industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Dangote Refinery.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery is currently the highest local supplier of cooking gas in Nigeria. The crisis involving PENGASSAN scuttled distribution. Many dealers could not replenish their stocks during the period.
‘’What we are witnessing is a function of demand and supply. In practice, the demand for cooking gas is higher than supply. But supply would likely stabilise in the coming days, following resolution of the conflict,” he told Vanguard newspaper.
Retailers in Lagos and environs have shut their plants, further stoking fears that prices may further increase in coming days.
Speaking to Business Post, Mr Sunday, a gas retailer in the Orelope area of Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, said he couldn’t get supply from his distributor, and was rationing the fuel and only selling to his loyal customers.
He added that there is a possibility that stability may return this week, but warned that prices may continue to rise as consumers move from one place to another in search of cooking gas.
Expressing her frustration, a consumer identified only as Habeebah lamented the cost of the cooking fuel, saying “I am actually frustrated, I just bought 1kg of gas for N2,500. This can’t continue.”
Adding his input, another consumer that refused to be named told this newspaper that, “It is actually scarce in my area, but it is essential to me so I have to buy now because who knows when this will end?”