Cooking gas prices in Nigeria have surged to more than ₦25,000 for a 12.5kg cylinder, forcing many households to abandon clean energy and return to firewood and charcoal. The sharp rise is worsening the cost‑of‑living crisis, sparking anger across social media and raising fears that the country’s clean energy adoption could collapse.
Prices now range between ₦1,650 and ₦2,400 per kilogram, depending on location, meaning a 12.5kg cylinder costs between ₦20,000 and ₦30,000. This represents a 40–66% increase in just weeks, driven by seasonal demand, supply shortages, high transport costs, and foreign exchange volatility.
Nigeria consumes about 1.6 million metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) annually, with roughly 40% historically imported. Recent global supply disruptions and weak local refining capacity have left the domestic market squeezed, despite Nigeria’s vast gas reserves.
The frustration is palpable online. “Gas is becoming a luxury item,” one user lamented. Another wrote: “Everything keeps going up except salaries.” A Lagos resident tweeted: “We’ve gone back to charcoal. It’s cheaper, even if it’s unhealthy.”
Chinedu Ukadike of the Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) said: “It’s seasonal. During the rainy season, demand rises as households abandon firewood. Supply constraints are adding pressure, but prices will come down naturally as more operators enter the market.”
Taofeek Lawal of Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) added: “There are fewer LPG products in the market to serve a growing customer base. That imbalance is driving prices up.”
Rainoil Managing Director Emmanuel Omuojine explained: “Global supply disruptions and shipping costs have raised premiums. Nigeria’s reliance on imports makes us vulnerable.”
Economist Bismarck Rewane noted: “Nigeria sits on vast gas reserves, yet citizens pay some of the highest cooking gas prices in Africa. Without fixing refining capacity, this crisis will persist.”
Environmental groups warned: “Families returning to firewood undermines Nigeria’s clean energy goals and worsens indoor air pollution, which already kills thousands yearly.”
Households and small businesses are struggling to cope. “Last week I bought gas at ₦1,600/kg. Now it’s ₦1,900 and even over ₦2,000. In May, it was just ₦1,000. This is too much,” said Deborah Akintola, a housewife in Ibadan. “Meals like beans are no longer on our menu. We can’t afford to cook them with gas,” said Felicia Ugwueke, a food vendor in Ebonyi. “We have gone back to using charcoal for most of our cooking because it is what we can afford,” said Folake Afolabi, a Lagos resident.
Industry experts say relief may come if new operators like Dangote Refinery expand supply, but until then, Nigerians face volatile prices and a retreat from clean energy. The government’s target of moving 100 million Nigerians to gas by 2030 now looks increasingly unrealistic.
