- Nationwide price surge defies increase in local production
- Akure residents, traders lament costs, household pressure
Cooking gas prices have surged to as high as N2,000 per kilogramme across Nigeria despite increased domestic production and declining imports.
Supply shortages and distribution bottlenecks continue to push up retail prices in many locations, investigations have revealed.
In Akure, the Ondo State capital, the product currently sells between N1,600/kg and N1,900/kg, depending on the location. This has subjected many households to immense pressure and untold hardship.
A manager at a major gas station in the state capital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, attributed the increase in prices to a shortage of supply experienced last week.
According to her, the station currently sells cooking gas to dealers at N1,600 per kilogramme and to end users at N1,900 per kilogramme.
The manager disclosed that many major gas marketers in Akure were unable to obtain adequate supplies during the period, leading to a sharp increase in prices.
She, however, expressed optimism that prices would decline in the coming days as more gas stations within the metropolis receive fresh supplies from Lagos.
The development has heightened concerns among residents and business owners, many of whom are calling for urgent interventions to make cooking gas more affordable and accessible.
A resident of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government area, Mr. Akinwade Oluwaseyi, said the persistent increase in gas prices had placed immense pressure on family budgets.
According to him, many households that previously relied solely on gas for cooking now struggle to refill their cylinders.
“The situation is becoming unbearable. A few years ago, gas was considered the cheapest and cleanest option, but today many families can hardly afford it.
“People are reducing their consumption because of the high cost,” he said.
Similarly, a food vendor in Akungba-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government area, Mrs. Adekemi Lawal, said the soaring cost of cooking gas had adversely affected small businesses.
She explained that many food vendors had been compelled to increase the prices of their products in order to cope with rising operational costs.
Lawal added that some residents had begun reverting to firewood and charcoal as alternatives, despite the health and environmental risks associated with them.
“People are going back to charcoal and firewood because they have no choice. It is cheaper for them, even though it comes with its own challenges,” she said.
Data obtained from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority indicated that local production from refineries and gas processing plants accounted for the bulk of the country’s LPG supply between April 2025 and April 2026, reducing reliance on imports.
Despite improved domestic supply, consumers continue to grapple with soaring prices, with cooking gas selling for as much as N2,000 per kilogramme in some parts of the country.
According to the NMDPRA, average daily domestic LPG supply ranged between 3,300 and 4,500 tonnes during the period under review. In March and April 2026, local supply stood at 4,500 tonnes per day, accounting for the majority of national LPG availability.
Conversely, imports by oil marketing companies declined sharply, dropping to 200 tonnes per day in March 2026 from 1,600 tonnes in November 2025 and 1,500 tonnes in December 2025.
The report showed that total average daily LPG supply ranged between 4,200 and 5,200 tonnes, peaking at 5,200 tonnes per day in December 2025 before settling at 4,500 tonnes by April 2026.
Industry observers attributed the strong domestic contribution to increased output from gas processing facilities and improved refining capacity, including supplies linked to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
However, marketers blamed rising prices on supply chain challenges and product scarcity in some locations, saying LPG has become increasingly difficult to source in certain markets.
It was revealed that cooking gas, which sold for less than N1,000 per kilogramme a few months ago, now sells for around N2,000 per kilogramme, depending on location.
The persistent increase in LPG prices has forced many households to revert to alternative cooking fuels such as charcoal and firewood, raising concerns about clean energy adoption and environmental sustainability.
Meanwhile, data from the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company showed that major gas transportation projects are nearing completion. The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline Project has reached 93.4 per cent completion, while the OB3 River Niger Crossing stands at 93.88 percent.
The ELPS Midline Compressor Project has attained 94.45 percent completion, while the Odidi-Warri Expansion Project is 70.28 percent complete. The Escravos-Odidi Project remains at an early stage, with 17.49 percent completion.
The NGIC described the AKK, OB3 and ELPS projects as almost complete, expressing optimism that they would boost gas transportation capacity nationwide upon completion.
Stakeholders, however, warned that increased domestic production alone may not bring down prices unless distribution bottlenecks and other market constraints are addressed.
The development comes amid the Federal Government’s push to deepen domestic gas utilisation and strengthen energy security.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers recently raised concerns over erratic supply and rising costs, warning that the situation could trigger scarcity and worsen hardship for millions of Nigerians.
In a statement jointly signed by its National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Mr. Bassey Essien, the association said marketers currently pay between N25.2m and N26.2m for 20 metric tonnes of LPG.
The association described the situation as “sad and rather very pathetic,” warning that the continued rise in prices had imposed severe hardship on households, food vendors, small businesses and low-income earners across the country
The Hope
