For millions of Nigerian families already grappling with rising food prices, transportation costs, and electricity challenges, the latest surge in the price of cooking gas has added another layer of hardship.
Recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed that the average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as Cooking Gas, increased by 13.73 per cent from ₦7,655.73 in March to ₦8,706.93 in April 2026, while the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder rose by 13.89 per cent from ₦19,652.83 in March 2026 to ₦22,382.20 in April. This translates to an average of about ₦1,790 per kilogramme.
However, checks by Pinnacle Daily over the weekend reveal that the retail price of the commodity has climbed to as much as ₦2,200 per kilogramme in some locations, forcing many households to rethink their daily cooking habits and household budgets.
Frustration Mounts Across Nigerian Cities
Consumers in different parts of the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Enugu, who spoke with Pinnacle Daily, expressed frustration over the steady increase in cooking gas prices, which they say is stretching family finances to the breaking point.
Pinnacle Daily observed that while Gasland, a gas depot in Igando, Lagos, is selling at ₦1,700 per kilogramme, retailers in the streets are selling between ₦2,000 and ₦2,200.
“I used to refill my 12.5kg cylinder for around ₦12,000 to ₦14,000. Now, it costs more than ₦27,000 in some places,” said Mrs Promise Odo, a resident of Igando. “Every month, we have to choose between buying enough food and refilling gas.”
Consumers around Isolo and Ikotun said refill stations are selling at about ₦1,800 and ₦1,900.
“I bought mine for ₦1,700 per kilogramme two weeks ago, but I heard that it is around ₦2,000 now in the streets,” said Eucharia Emmanuel, a resident of Oke-Afa, Isolo.
Similarly, consumers around Mowe, Ogun State, said they bought the product at ₦1,900 per kilogramme at a gas refill station while retail outlets are selling above that.
In Port Harcourt, consumers said they bought at ₦2,000 per kilogramme, while some retail outlets are still selling at ₦1,500.
Some consumers in Abuja confirmed they bought at ₦1,600 per kilogramme on Monday in Abuja.
In Enugu, Nipco is still selling at ₦1,400. A manager of one of the gas stations in Enugu who didn’t want to be named disclosed that the price would likely go higher. He said gas is scarce in many depots currently.
Charles Arinze, a roadside fast food vendor in Enugu, expressed worry about the hike in the price of cooking gas, lamenting that the development would further erode their profit margin. “The rising cost of gas is really affecting our business. We are constrained by the fact that customers are unwilling to accept higher prices, thereby affecting our profit,” Arinze told Pinnacle Daily in a chat.
Soaring Costs Despite Rising Local Supply
The sharp increase comes at a time when the country is recording increased domestic supply. Data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that local production met the majority of the country’s LPG needs between April 2025 and April 2026, signalling a reduction in the country’s dependence on imports.
However, the increase in domestic supply has not had any impact on price reduction.
Industry stakeholders attribute the rising cost to a combination of factors, including the lingering effects of the U.S.-Iran conflict on global energy supply, foreign exchange volatility, high transportation costs, and supply chain challenges. Although Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest producers of natural gas, industry analysts argue that domestic consumers continue to bear the burden of inadequate infrastructure and dependence on market forces.
Marketers also cite rising operational expenses, including transportation, storage, and distribution costs.
Marketers Raise the Alarm Over Supply Crisis
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) stated that the supply situation is “growing worse,” with marketers now paying between ₦25.2 million and ₦30 million for a 20-metric-tonne truck of LPG.
In a statement jointly signed by the National President of NALPGAM, Edu Inyang, and the Executive Secretary, Mr Bassey Essien, the association expressed concern about the rising cost of LPG, noting that it has inflicted more hardship on millions of Nigerians. For low- and middle-income earners, the impact is immediate and severe. Many households now ration cooking gas usage, opting for meals that require less cooking time or reducing the number of hot meals prepared each day.
The development comes at a time when inflation continues to erode purchasing power nationwide. With food prices remaining elevated and utility costs rising, household budgets are under unprecedented pressure.
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NALPGAM warned that continued increases in cooking gas prices could trigger widespread public dissatisfaction if urgent interventions are not implemented.
The group warned that failure to address the situation could undermine years of efforts to promote clean cooking energy across the country.
Nigeria has, over the past decade, encouraged households to transition away from traditional fuels as part of broader public health and environmental sustainability initiatives.
As prices continue to climb, many Nigerians fear that clean cooking fuel may gradually become a luxury rather than a necessity.
For families already struggling to make ends meet, the jump to ₦2,200 per kilogram represents more than just another price increase—it is yet another reminder of the growing cost-of-living crisis confronting households across the country.
Consumer groups have consistently called on the Federal Government to implement policies that encourage increased domestic LPG production, strengthen distribution networks, and provide incentives that make cooking gas more affordable for ordinary Nigerians.
Can Nigerians Expect Relief?
While the immediate outlook is challenging, there are long-term infrastructure projects nearing completion that could eventually ease the pressure.
Key gas projects, such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline (94 per cent complete) and the OB3 River Niger Crossing (96 per cent complete), as confirmed by NNPC, are designed to improve gas transportation and distribution across the country.
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. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X