Cooking Gas Scarcity Hits Nigeria as Prices Soar Nationwide — Consumers Cry Out
By HotGist9ja News Desk | October 7, 2025
Abuja, Nigeria — The price of cooking gas has skyrocketed across Nigeria, with reports showing a sharp rise from an average of ₦1,200 to between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000 per kilogram in some major cities. The sudden surge has sparked public outrage as households and retailers struggle to cope with dwindling supply and soaring costs.
What’s Happening
Many LPG filling stations in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano have either closed temporarily or are selling at record-high prices following disruptions in supply caused by the PENGASSAN strike that recently affected operations at major terminals and refineries.
The strike, combined with foreign exchange instability and distribution bottlenecks, has led to widespread scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas.
Consumers Lament Rising Prices
In markets across the country, residents are expressing frustration as the cost of refilling a 12.5 kg cylinder has climbed from about ₦15,000 to as high as ₦25,000 in less than two weeks.
“This is unbearable,” said Grace Uche, a mother of three in Lagos. “We can’t keep up with this every week. Some people are already going back to charcoal and firewood.”
Why Prices Are Rising
- Supply disruptions: The recent industrial action by oil and gas workers slowed production and distribution nationwide.
- Refinery challenges: Local producers, including Dangote Refinery, have faced distribution delays despite recent price adjustments meant to stabilize the market.
- Weak naira: Importers are struggling to source foreign exchange, raising landing costs of imported LPG.
- Logistics issues: Delays at ports and high transport costs continue to hinder nationwide delivery.
Government and Industry Response
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has attributed the situation partly to supply disruptions following the strike, but said efforts are ongoing to restore normalcy.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery recently slashed its ex-depot price of LPG from ₦810 to ₦760 per kilogram to cushion the impact — a move analysts say could stabilize the market if distribution improves.
Economic Impact and Public Reaction
Economists warn that the rising price of cooking gas could worsen Nigeria’s cost of living crisis, with ripple effects on inflation and small businesses such as restaurants and food vendors.
On social media, Nigerians are trending hashtags like #CookingGas and #GasPriceHike, demanding government intervention to protect citizens from further hardship.
Outlook
Experts predict that prices may begin to ease in the coming weeks if refineries ramp up production and logistics channels clear up. However, with the naira still weak and inflation soaring, full recovery could take longer than expected.
For now, Nigerians continue to hope that government action and refinery interventions will bring relief to kitchen budgets already stretched thin.
