The cost of cooking gas in Nigeria has surged dramatically, leaving many households grappling with increased expenses. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the price of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) skyrocketed by 69% between August 2023 and August 2024, despite improvements in supply.
In August 2024, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas cylinder rose to ₦15,552, compared to ₦9,194.41 in August 2023. On a month-to-month basis, the price increased by 9.05%, rising from ₦14,261.57 in July 2024. Meanwhile, the cost of refilling a smaller 5kg gas cylinder also saw a significant jump, increasing by 56.25% year-on-year, from ₦4,115.32 to ₦6,430.02 in August.
States With the Highest Prices
According to the NBS, several states have seen particularly high cooking gas prices. Benue and Sokoto reported the highest average prices for a 5kg cylinder, reaching ₦7,000. Rivers State followed closely with an average price of ₦6,954.55, while Borno recorded ₦6,914.29.
In contrast, Taraba had the lowest average price at ₦5,600.67, followed by Abuja and Kogi, where prices were recorded at ₦5,825 and ₦5,857.56, respectively.
Regional Price Differences
A regional analysis shows that the South-East zone had the highest average price for a 5kg gas cylinder, while the North-Central zone recorded the lowest. The South-South region followed closely with an average price of ₦6,451.34.
Similarly, Rivers State recorded the highest price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at ₦17,086.36, followed by Cross River at ₦17,050.00. Nasarawa and Adamawa reported the lowest prices for the same cylinder size, at ₦13,640.94 and ₦13,725.00, respectively.
Public Outcry and Government Intervention
Despite government interventions, Nigerians continue to lament the increasing cost of cooking gas. Many residents, especially in Abuja, have urged the government to take urgent action to curb rising prices. With the cost of living already high due to inflation and other economic challenges, the spike in gas prices has further strained household budgets.
As the government seeks to manage inflation and stabilize the economy, the public remains hopeful that more effective measures will be implemented to ease the burden of rising energy costs.
