Marketers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, have attributed the recent spike in prices across Nigeria to rising demand, supply shortages and seasonal factors.
Industry stakeholders, including the Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) and the Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company Plc (NIPCO), expressed optimism that the current surge is temporary and that prices would eventually decline as supply improves.
Their comments come amid growing concerns from Nigerians over the sharp increase in the cost of cooking gas, particularly in Abuja and surrounding areas, where prices have reportedly risen by between 40 and 66 per cent in the past three weeks.
The product, which previously sold for between ₦1,000 and ₦1,200 per kilogramme, now goes for between ₦1,400 and ₦2,000 per kilogramme, further worsening the cost-of-living crisis faced by many households.
The development comes as headline inflation and food inflation stood at 26.50 per cent and 16.09 per cent, respectively, in April 2026, while the national minimum wage remains ₦70,000.
Speaking on the development, NOGASA spokesperson Chinedu Ukadike said the rainy season has significantly increased demand for cooking gas as many households are unable to rely on firewood.
“It’s because of demand now. You know, it’s the rainy season,” Ukadike said.
According to him, the wet season reduces access to firewood, forcing more families to switch to LPG.
“Once it comes to the rainy season, all firewood goes off. It’s seasonal. That’s the way it works,” he explained.
Ukadike noted that the scarcity of alternative cooking fuels had also contributed to the upward pressure on prices.
Despite the current situation, he expressed confidence that market forces would eventually bring prices down.
“It will come down naturally,” he assured.
He added that the entry of more players into the LPG market, including the Dangote Refinery, would help boost supply and ease the burden on consumers.
On its part, NIPCO said the current price increase was caused by inadequate supply relative to growing demand.
According to NIPCO spokesperson Taofeek Lawal, the available quantity of LPG in the market is insufficient to meet the needs of consumers.
“It is basically a supply issue. There are few products for a large number of customers,” he said.
Lawal stressed that improving supply remains the only lasting solution to stabilising prices.
The solution is to improve supply to meet the growing demand,” he added.
The latest increase in cooking gas prices has renewed concerns about energy affordability in Nigeria, especially as millions of households have abandoned kerosene and firewood in favour of cleaner LPG alternatives.
However, marketers insist that the current surge is temporary and expect prices to moderate as supply improves and more operators enter the market.
