Cooking gas prices have surged nationwide, pushing the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder above N22,000. Dealers and marketers blame the increase on supply shortages, high depot prices, and logistics challenges. Stakeholders, including NALPGAM and PETROAN, say the situation threatens Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
New Pricing Details
Nigerian households are once again facing financial strain following new pricing announced by cooking gas dealers. The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has increased to between N1,800 and N2,000 per kg in major cities, up from the previous average rate of N1,300 per kg. At depots and retail stations in Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ilorin, and Port Harcourt, the new price has raised the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder to between N22,500 and N25,000. This adds to existing economic pressures from food prices, transportation costs, and inflation.
Reasons for the Increase
Dealers attributed the price hike to supply shortages, rising depot prices, logistics, and operational costs. They explained that the increase in depot prices forced retailers to raise their prices to cover operating costs. The price hike comes just days after Eid-el-Kabir, when many families are already using more energy for cooking, leaving them in a difficult situation.
Consumer Impact
Consumers say the continued rise in LPG prices would force families back to using firewood and charcoal, despite the government's push for cleaner and safer cooking energy. The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) warned that the price hikes may defeat the purpose of promoting clean energy consumption in homes. Marketers now pay between N25.2 million and N26.2 million per 20 metric tonnes of LPG, depending on location, and this cost is passed to consumers.
Industry Reactions
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) cited lack of competition within the LPG sector as a cause for recurrent scarcity and price volatility, calling for greater liberalisation. Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, said affordable cooking gas is critical to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development. He urged the government to consider measures to make LPG more accessible and support wider adoption of clean energy.
NBS Data on Cooking Gas Prices
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of LPG rose by 13.73% month-on-month, from N7,655.73 in March 2026 to N8,706.93 in April 2026. On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42% from N7,885.60 in April 2025. The average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder rose by 13.89% month-on-month, from N19,652.83 in March 2026 to N22,382.20 in April 2026.
