Residents of the Federal Capital Territory have expressed frustration over the rising cost of Liquefied Natural Gas, commonly known as cooking gas, urging the government to take swift action to stabilize prices.
In Abuja on Tuesday, many residents lamented that the latest price hike, which followed the strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), had become unbearable and was straining household budgets.
Across several outlets, the price of cooking gas reportedly jumped from N1,100 per kilogram to between N1,700 and N1,800 per kilogram.
A businesswoman said she refilled her 12.5kg cylinder for N18,125, up from N15,000. She explained that she had to visit multiple stations before finding one that had the product in stock. “We are already struggling with other bills, and this increase is affecting my spending on essential needs. I hope the government can resolve the issues behind this because many of us depend solely on gas for cooking,” she said.
A security guard also shared his frustration, noting that he could no longer afford to refill his 5kg cylinder. “I used to fill it for about N5,500, now it costs N8,000. I had to settle for just 3kg at N4,800. The government should please step in; things are becoming too difficult,” he said.
Similarly, a tailor said she was forced to reduce her gas purchase, paying only what she had budgeted before the price surge. “I was buying at N14,000, now it’s N21,000. How many families can keep up with that? I told my children to be extra careful not to waste gas because it’s expensive now,” she said.
A civil servant said she had switched to using charcoal whenever the cost of gas increased. “It’s not convenient, but I have a large family, and the price is no longer sustainable. The government must find a permanent solution,” she said.
Another resident said she managed to get gas at a cheaper rate from a major outlet despite long queues. “I filled my 12.5kg cylinder for about N14,000 at NIPCO. The queues are still long, but things seem to be easing gradually. I urge the government to ensure full product circulation to make it more affordable again,” she said.
Responding to the situation, the Federal Government directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to intensify monitoring of LPG depots to prevent product hoarding.
According to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), the price hike was linked to the PENGASSAN strike at the Dangote Refinery and maintenance activities at the Nigeria LNG train four facility, which had reduced domestic supply.
He assured that operations at both facilities had resumed, with LPG loading ongoing to restore supply. “The situation is temporary and will soon normalise,” he said, urging marketers to avoid hoarding and act responsibly.
