Cooking Gas Price Surge Squeezes Nigerians for Fifth Consecutive Month

For the fifth straight month, Nigerians are facing relentless increases in cooking gas prices, straining household budgets and forcing many to make difficult choices about how — and how often — they cook.

“I used to refill my 12.5kg cylinder for about ₦15,000 last year. Now, it’s over ₦21,000,” lamented Blessing Johnson, a 38-year-old tailor and mother of three in Warri, Delta State. “Sometimes I stretch it for two months by cooking less often, or I switch to kerosene. But kerosene is also expensive. It’s like we’re being squeezed from every side.”

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) rose by 1.92% in June 2025, from ₦8,167.43 in May to ₦8,323.95. While the month-to-month increase appears modest, the year-on-year figure tells a harsher story: prices have jumped 19.49% from ₦6,966.03 in June 2024.

The larger 12.5kg cylinders reflect even sharper hikes. Refilling one now costs an average of ₦21,010.56, up 1.46% from May’s ₦20,709.11 — and a staggering 33.52% higher than the ₦15,736.27 recorded in June 2024.

Regional Gaps in Pricing

Price disparities remain stark across the country. Delta State tops the chart for the highest 5kg refill cost at ₦9,243.38, followed by Cross River (₦9,193.16) and Rivers (₦9,188.51). For the 12.5kg cylinder, Delta again leads at ₦23,108.44, trailed by Cross River (₦22,982.89) and Rivers (₦22,971.27).

On the lower end, Oyo, Plateau, and Yobe post average 5kg refill prices of ₦7,100, ₦7,200, and ₦7,600, respectively. Yobe also has the lowest 12.5kg refill cost at ₦19,000, followed by Niger (₦19,242.48) and Jigawa (₦20,025.94).

Regionally, the South-South zone pays the most — ₦8,871.63 for 5kg and ₦22,179.08 for 12.5kg — while the South-West enjoys the lowest averages at ₦7,960.42 and ₦20,402.42, respectively.

Why Prices Keep Rising

Nigeria remains Africa’s largest oil producer, yet it imports much of its LPG. This dependence ties domestic prices to global market swings, meaning disruptions in international supply, increased demand from other countries, and geopolitical tensions all feed into local price hikes.

The weak naira adds more pressure, as importers must spend more on foreign exchange to purchase LPG, passing the added costs to consumers.

“Gas pricing is no longer just a local matter—it’s tied to the global energy market and currency stability,” noted Sola Adeyemi, an energy economist at the University of Lagos. “Until we produce enough locally, Nigerians will remain vulnerable to global price shocks.”

Rising demand, encouraged by government campaigns promoting LPG as a cleaner alternative to firewood and charcoal, has not been matched by supply growth. Poor storage capacity, inadequate distribution networks, and high transportation costs — especially to rural areas — further inflate prices.

Government Action, Public Frustration

In 2024, the Federal Government banned the export of locally produced LPG to boost domestic supply and stabilise prices. But almost a year later, consumers say the relief has yet to materialise.

In many urban households, cooking is now limited to once a day, with meals reheated to conserve gas. In rural areas, a return to firewood is raising both health and environmental alarms.

“In my area, people are cutting down more trees because they can’t afford gas anymore,” said Fatima Musa, a food vendor in Bauchi State. “It’s cheaper, but the smoke is killing us slowly.”