Raphael Kanu
Nigerians are grappling with rising cooking gas prices, with a kilogram now selling for as high as ₦2,000 in some areas, causing concern among households.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) said the increase is not due to any official price hike, but is linked to temporary supply disruptions and opportunistic market behavior.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, NALPGAM President Oladapo Olatunbosun said, “Prices of cooking gas have not officially increased. Some marketers are taking advantage of supply shortages and rising demand, which is wrong and unacceptable.”
He explained that the disruption followed the recent strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against Dangote Refinery, which slowed product loading and vessel inspections.
“The problem began when Dangote Refinery, which had improved domestic supply by cutting out middlemen, embarked on maintenance. This slowed truck loading, and the subsequent strike worsened the backlog, particularly in the South-West, the region consuming the most LPG,” Olatunbosun noted.
While some consumers report paying between ₦1,700 and ₦3,000 per kilogram, he advised buying cooking gas directly from registered plants, where prices remain between ₦1,000 and ₦1,300, depending on location and overhead costs.
Olatunbosun assured Nigerians that the surge is artificial and temporary, with supply expected to stabilize in the coming days.