Cooking Gas Price Hits N1,200 per kg: Nigerian Consumers can’t breathe.
The price of cooking gas in Nigeria has reached alarming levels, with a kilogram now costing between N1,000 and N1,200, causing growing concerns among consumers across the nation. This surge in prices is compounded by fears of further increases due to a scarcity of the product, which industry insiders attribute to supply disruptions.
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Survey on Cooking Gas Price
Checks conducted by Daily Trust reporters across Lagos State paint a grim picture. While some retail stations sell 12.5 kilograms of cooking gas for N12,000, in areas on the outskirts of Lagos, such as Mowe, Ibafo, and Magboro, a single kilogram was found to be selling for as high as N1,200. This price hike is notably more pronounced along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
At a major retail outlet in Lagos, attendants informed customers that they were still awaiting a fresh supply, despite long queues of buyers who had been waiting since morning. The price listed on a notice at the gas station showed N8,500 per 12.5kg, but the attendants could not confirm the current price, emphasizing that it would be determined once the product arrived.
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Nigerians frustrated over Cooking Gas Price
One resident, Mrs. Suebat Ola, shared her frustration, stating, “I came all the way from Mowe to fill my cylinders because along our axis, it is sold at between N1,150 and N1,200 per kilogram, amounting to over N12,000 for a 12.5kg cylinder. This is too expensive. I don’t know how long we would continue to spend this much on cooking gas.”
Our correspondents discovered that many retail stations in parts of Lagos had run out of stock, and the price per kilogram had soared to N1,100 from N750 just a week ago, causing distress among families and businesses.
Cooking Gas Price in Kano StateÂ
In Kano metropolis, long queues were observed at major gas stations, where some vendors sold a kilogram for N880, while others charged N950 and N1,000, compared to the previous rate of N750. The high cost of transportation due to the rising cost of diesel was cited as a reason for the price hike by vendors.
The Kano State Secretary of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers of Nigeria (LIPGAR), Muhammad Omede, blamed the difficulties faced by transporters on the poor state of the road network, particularly the Lagos-Kano road.
Cooking Gas Price: What experts are saying
Several factors, including the weak naira, limited bulk storage, and scattered terminals, were cited by citizens as potential reasons for the gas price surge. The situation has raised concerns that Nigerians may revert to using firewood for cooking, which has adverse environmental consequences.
Chucks Okafor, a gas retailer in Oshodi, Lagos, expressed his concern, saying that consumers might end up paying as much as N1,200 per kilogram before the week ends. “The current price stands at N1,100 per kilogram, while 3kg and 6kg cylinders cost N3,300 and N6,600, respectively. A 12kg cylinder of cooking gas now costs N13,200,” he explained.
Lamenting the impact of high gas prices, Mrs. Adebayo Esther Aderonke, a Lagos resident, stated, “Cooking gas has become a luxury we can barely afford. We used to cook three meals a day, but now we have had to cut back. It is disheartening.”
Even renowned restaurateurs like Chef Maya have not been spared by the price hikes. “Our menu prices have had to increase, and customers are noticing. We fear losing our regulars due to the rising costs,” she shared.
Marketers Point to Supply Disruption and Profiteering
The president of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALGAM), Oladapo Olatunbosun, urged the federal government to take action to address the soaring gas prices. He attributed the gas scarcity in parts of Lagos to supply disruptions, explaining that the vessel scheduled to offload in the state had not yet done so.
Olatunbosun warned that the price of a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas could soon reach N18,000 if the federal government did not intervene to control the rising costs. He emphasized that the volume of gas marketers buy has increased significantly in terms of price.
He called for concerted efforts to ensure that cooking gas remains affordable for ordinary Nigerians, especially in light of the removal of fuel subsidies, irregular electricity supply, and the growing dependence on gas for cooking.
What we know on Cooking Gas Price.
In conclusion, it appears that the skyrocketing price of cooking gas in Nigeria is posing significant challenges for consumers and businesses alike. The root causes include supply disruptions, the high cost of transportation, and economic factors. As citizens grapple with the financial burden of expensive cooking gas, there is a growing need for government intervention to stabilize prices and ensure that this essential household commodity remains accessible to all
