Nigerian households are facing fresh financial strain as the price of cooking gas continues to climb, with the average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder rising to N7,655.73 in March 2026. This data comes from the latest Cooking Gas Price Watch report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The report indicates a significant month-on-month increase of 12.60 percent compared to the N6,799.18 recorded in February 2026. On a year-on-year basis, the average retail price for a 5kg cylinder rose by 4.55 percent from N7,322.49 in March 2025, highlighting the growing burden on households already grappling with inflation and rising living costs.
State-by-State Analysis
State-level data showed that Kaduna recorded the highest average price for a 5kg cylinder at N9,212.21, followed closely by Lagos at N8,909.73 and Taraba at N8,802.78. On the other hand, Bauchi posted the lowest average price at N6,295.40, while Osun and Ondo followed at N6,457.35 and N6,598.10, respectively.
Across the geopolitical zones, the North-West emerged as the most expensive region with an average of N8,137.81, while the South-South recorded the lowest zonal average at N7,300.95. The North-East followed closely behind the North-West with N7,890.53.
12.5kg Cylinder Nears N20,000
The cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder also recorded a sharp jump, rising by 15.62 percent month-on-month to N19,652.83 in March from N16,997.94 in February. Compared to March 2025, the price increased by 6.48 percent from N18,456.24, pushing the popular household size cylinder closer to the N20,000 mark nationwide.
Nasarawa recorded the highest average price at N23,418.12, followed by Kaduna at N23,030.52 and Akwa Ibom at N22,816.74. Bauchi again posted the lowest price at N15,738.50, with Osun and Ondo following at N16,143.38 and N16,495.25, respectively. Regionally, the North-West led with an average of N20,701.66, while the South-East recorded the lowest zonal average at N18,432.63.
Reasons for Price Increases
Economist Opeyemi Alabi attributed the sustained increase to volatile foreign exchange rates, rising transportation costs, and global market instability. According to him, tensions in the Middle East, particularly the U.S.-Iran conflict, have pushed up Brent crude prices and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) costs globally.
“LPG is priced in US dollars, so naira depreciation raises landing costs significantly,” Alabi explained. He added that even locally supplied gas from Nigeria LNG is tied to international pricing benchmarks, making consumers vulnerable to global price shocks despite domestic production.
Depot Prices Rise
Data from PetroleumPriceNG shows that depot prices also skyrocketed recently, with marketers increasing prices by 2.9 percent. According to the data, Dangote Refinery has the lowest LPG price at N1,035 per kilogram, Rainoil Lagos at N1,120, A.Y.M Shafa at N1,160, and NIPCO Lagos at N1,087.5.
Experts attributed the increase to the rise in crude oil prices and the continued blockage of the critical Strait of Hormuz. The surge in cooking gas prices has piled fresh pressure on Nigerian households already grappling with a high cost of living. Recent market checks reveal that depot and retail prices have risen sharply, with some plants increasing rates from N1,050 per kilogram to as high as N1,200 per kg, a N150 jump in a short period.
