Dangote Refinery has increased its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) price from N980 to N1,030 per kilogram, a 5.1% rise that raises fresh concerns about the cost of cooking gas for millions of Nigerian households already under financial pressure. The new ex-depot price means a 12.5kg cylinder now costs N12,875 before distribution and retailer costs are added.
Retail Price Variations Across Nigeria in August 2026
The refinery's price hike comes against the backdrop of wide retail price swings recorded across the country in August 2026. Data covering 18 locations showed that consumers paid between N1,200 and N1,500 per kilogram, depending on where they lived. The most expensive rates were recorded in Sapele and Edo State at N1,500 per kilogram, pushing the cost of a 12.5kg cylinder refill to N18,750.
That figure was about N1,903 above the average of N16,847.22 calculated across the 18 locations. Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory and Ijebu East in Ogun State offered the cheapest prices at N1,200 per kilogram, meaning consumers there paid N15,000 for a 12.5kg refill, N3,750 less than in Sapele and Edo.
Mid-Range Prices and State-Level Disparities
Several other locations fell in between. Ojo, Lagos Island, Sango Ota in Ogun State, Katsina and parts of Ikorodu in Lagos recorded N1,400 per kilogram, or N17,500 for a 12.5kg cylinder. Jos recorded N1,360 per kilogram, equivalent to N17,000, while Aba, Benin City, Ifo, Karu, Owode Yewa, Sabo in Ikorodu and Shagamu recorded N1,300 per kilogram, or N16,250 for a 12.5kg refill. The median price across the 18 locations stood at N16,625 for a 12.5kg cylinder.
The data also showed considerable variation between communities within a single state. In Ogun State, for example, LPG sold for N1,200 per kilogram in Ijebu East but climbed to N1,400 in Sango Ota, with Ifo, Owode Yewa and Shagamu recording N1,300 in between. The gap of N200 per kilogram translates to N2,500 on a 12.5kg refill within the same state. Lagos showed a similar pattern, with Ojo, Lagos Island, Ikorodu (Ijede) and Odogunyan recording N1,400 per kilogram, while Sabo in Ikorodu was priced at N1,300.
NBS Data Confirms Rising Cooking Gas Costs
Earlier reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirm that cooking gas became more expensive for households across Nigeria during the period under review. According to the NBS cooking gas price watch, the average retail price of a 5kg LPG cylinder increased to N8,706.93 from N7,655.73 previously. The latest figure represents a 13.73% month-on-month increase, meaning households spent significantly more to refill their cooking gas cylinders during the period.
The Dangote Refinery's price adjustment adds to the financial burden on consumers, who now face higher costs for an essential household fuel. With the new ex-depot price of N1,030 per kilogram, the potential retail impact is expected to be felt across all 18 surveyed locations, potentially widening the gap between the cheapest and most expensive areas. The NBS data underscores a broader trend of rising energy costs in Nigeria, and the Dangote Refinery's move is likely to intensify pressure on household budgets in the coming months.
