On June 2, 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 7.69% month-on-month increase in the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, rising from N7,322.49 in March to N7,885.60 in April 2025. The price for a 12.5kg cylinder surged by 9.82%, from N18,456.24 to N20,268.06 over the same period. Year-on-year, the 5kg cylinder price rose 20.92% from N6,521.58 in April 2024, while the 12.5kg cylinder increased by 29.61% from N15,637.74. At the exchange rate of N1,579/$1, the 5kg cylinder price equates to approximately $5, underscoring the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
State-by-state analysis revealed significant regional disparities. Rivers State recorded the highest average price for a 5kg cylinder at N9,103.82, followed by Ebonyi (N8,867.24) and Akwa Ibom (N8,655.59), while Niger had the lowest at N7,006.15, trailed by Plateau (N7,014.87) and Kebbi (N7,032.11). For the 12.5kg cylinder, Imo topped the list at N22,938.73, with Delta (N22,831.70) and Rivers (N22,759.56) close behind, while Kebbi offered the lowest price at N18,080.27, followed by Nasarawa (N18,106.85) and Kwara (N18,173.67). Zonal data showed the South-South region with the highest averages at N8,447.78 for 5kg and N21,536.12 for 12.5kg, while the North-Central region recorded the lowest at N7,432.22 and N19,330.55, respectively.
In March 2025, Sokoto led with the highest 5kg cylinder price at N8,157.38, followed by Rivers (N8,085.92) and Taraba (N8,056.75), while Kebbi had the lowest at N6,336.28. For 12.5kg cylinders, Rivers topped at N20,964.79, with Cross River (N20,934.23) and Akwa Ibom (N20,623.80) following, and Nasarawa recorded the lowest at N15,661.30. The South-South region consistently posted the highest prices, with N7,598.13 for 5kg and N20,203.66 for 12.5kg, while the North-Central region remained the most affordable.
The price surge aligns with Nigeria’s economic challenges, despite a slight easing of inflation to 23.71% in April 2025 from 24.23% in March, a 0.52 percentage point decline, per NBS data. Month-on-month inflation fell to 1.86% in April from 3.90% in March, reflecting a 2.04 percentage point drop. However, rising energy costs, including a 76.73% year-on-year increase in petrol prices to N1,341.71 in the South-East, continue to strain households. Posts on X, such as from @Nairametrics, highlight public frustration with cooking gas price hikes, while @thesunngr notes the Central Bank of Nigeria’s efforts to stabilize the economy through forex reforms. Analysts attribute the LPG price rise to supply chain constraints and naira volatility, with the cedi’s 50% gain in Ghana underscoring regional disparities in currency performance.
