Cooking Gas Prices Skyrocket to N25,000 per 12.5kg Cylinder
The price of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas has surged to N25,000, a significant increase from N17,500 just a week ago. This price hike has left many households struggling to afford the essential commodity.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Bassey Essien, in an interview with Vanguard, revealed that the recent industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria disrupted distribution, leading to the shortage and subsequent price increase.
The crisis has forced many gas plants to shut down, leaving consumers to search far and wide for the product. In Lagos and its environs, the situation is particularly dire, with long queues at gas stations and black marketers taking advantage of the shortage. The price of 1kg of cooking gas currently retails between N1,500 and N2,000, depending on the location.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, recently disclosed that the refinery is producing 2,000 tonnes of LPG per day and plans to increase output further to meet the nation’s demand. Dangote expressed concerns about Nigeria’s energy poverty and stated that if distributors don’t bring down prices, the company will consider selling directly to consumers.
The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited has committed to making clean energy accessible to every Nigerian home. Since 2007, the company has been supplying butane to homes across the country and has increased the volume reserved for the domestic market. In 2022, the company committed 100% of its butane production to Nigeria’s domestic needs.
As the situation stands, consumers are advised to expect prices to stabilize once the conflict is resolved and distribution channels are restored. In the meantime, households are being forced to adjust their budgets to accommodate the increased cost of cooking gas.
