The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) also known as cooking gas has risen to the roof top in Lagos.
This is as long queues have been observed at different refilling depots due to scarcity of the product.
This is coming days after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) suspended its strike against Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The strike was called after the refinery allegedly sacked 800 Nigerian workers, with PENGASSAN accusing the refinery of unfair labour practices.
The intervention of the Federal Government led to suspension of the strike by PENGASSAN, which threatened to resume if their demands were not met by the management of the Dangote Refinery.
Though the strike has been called off, the impact continues to linger.
Checks by Pinnacle Daily reveal that cooking gas prices have surged by 30 per cent to 100 per cent in some areas, with a kilogramme of cooking gas now costing between ₦1,600 and as high as ₦2,200 per kilogramme at Black market rate.
At a gas refilling plant in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos, residents pay ₦1,800/kg, meaning it now costs ₦22,500 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder.
This is against ₦1,000 per kilogramme it was sold the previous week, reflecting almost 100 per cent surge in price in one week.
READ ALSO: We’ll Resume Strike If Dangote Fails to Comply – PENGASSAN
Mrs Promise Ugwuanyi, who resides in Igando expressed shock over the sudden hike in the price of cooking gas. She lamented long queues at a refilling plant in the area.
“I struggled to refill my seven kilogramme cylinder yesterday (Friday) after spending hours on the queue. The depot is one of the few ones selling in this area,” Ugwuanyi told Pinnacle Daily.
Emeka Ogbonna said gas now sells for ₦1,600 at depots, while retailers sell between ₦2,000 and ₦2,200 per kilogramme in parts of Ajah and Bogije, Ibeju-Lekki.
Isaiah, a resident of Akoka said he bought cooking gas at ₦2,500 on Friday.
Pinnacle Daily observed that many retail shops in Ilasa, Isolo area of Lagos do not have the product on Saturday, leaving customers stranded and returning home with empty cylinders.
The dispute between PENGASSAN and Dangote Refinery disrupted gas supply chains, triggering a spike in costs.
The development has left households struggling to afford cooking gas, with some resorting to alternative fuels like charcoal and firewood.
Small restaurants and businesses are also feeling the pinch, with some fearing collapse due to soaring energy costs. Israel Okah, who runs a restaurant expressed frustration over the sudden hike in cost of cooking gas. “ Imagine paying ₦22,000 for my 11kg cylinder,” he lamented during a chat with Pinnacle Daily.
The scarcity has sparked outrage from Nigerians on social media. While some blamed the labour union for embarking on strike and disrupting the gas supply chains that triggered the scarcity, others criticised the actions of retailers who cashed in on the situation to arbitrarily hike prices and exploit helpless consumers.
“This increase was arbitrarily done by retailers due to the PENGASSAN issue with Dangote Refinery. Our people are fond of taking advantage of every situation to milk other Nigerians and would still have the effrontery to blame the government. I hope now that the issue is resolved, they will revert,” an X user Olalekan stated.
Another X user, Adebanjo Sanya said the situation would force households to start going for alternatives like charcoal to survive.
He called for government intervention to resolve the crisis.
“At this rate, people will soon start pricing firewood and charcoal. How are families supposed to survive when even basic things like food, fuel and gas are no longer affordable? The government needs to step in with real solutions, not promises. This is beyond tough, it’s becoming unbearable for the common man,” he stated.
In a media interview, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Mr. Olatunbosun Oladapo attributed the scarcity and surge in price of gas to the PENGASSAN strike. He said many gas plants were shut down during the strike, affecting supply in the South-west region.
According to him, Marketers are struggling to receive loading invoices from Dangote, which is their major supplier, forcing them to buy from alternative suppliers at higher prices.
The NALPGAM president appealed to Dangote to release more products to marketers, which could help stabilise prices.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
