The price of cooking gas in Lagos has climbed to as high as ₦1,500 per kilogram, intensifying pressure on households already grappling with persistent inflation and rising energy costs.
Market surveys across several parts of Lagos showed that retail prices for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, have risen sharply in recent weeks as supply shortages disrupted distribution channels and tightened product availability.
The latest increase marks another setback for Nigeria’s clean energy transition agenda, which has encouraged millions of households to move away from kerosene and firewood toward LPG for domestic cooking.
Retailers attributed the surge primarily to limited supply from depots, high transportation costs, and foreign exchange volatility affecting import-dependent marketers. Nigeria, despite being one of Africa’s largest gas producers, still relies significantly on imported LPG to meet domestic demand.
Operators said depot prices have risen steadily, forcing marketers to transfer additional costs to end-users. In several Lagos districts, consumers reported paying between ₦1,400 and ₦1,500 per kilogram, compared with prices below ₦1,100 earlier this year.
The increase is expected to deepen cost-of-living pressures across urban centres, where cooking gas has become a primary household energy source. Analysts warn that prolonged price spikes could push low-income families back toward cheaper but environmentally harmful alternatives such as charcoal and firewood.
Energy economists say structural weaknesses within Nigeria’s downstream gas market continue to expose consumers to recurring supply disruptions. Limited storage infrastructure, inadequate domestic processing capacity, and exchange-rate instability remain major constraints in the sector.
The depreciation of the naira has also compounded the crisis. Importers sourcing LPG cargoes in dollars face significantly higher landing costs, while rising diesel prices have increased logistics expenses for transporting products nationwide.
Industry stakeholders are calling for stronger policy coordination to stabilise the market. Some marketers argue that improving domestic gas processing and expanding local supply infrastructure could reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports and shield consumers from international price swings.
The development comes as inflationary pressures continue to weigh heavily on Nigerian households. Food prices, transportation fares, electricity tariffs, and energy costs have all risen sharply over the past year, eroding disposable incomes and weakening consumer purchasing power.
For businesses such as restaurants, bakeries, and small-scale food vendors that rely heavily on LPG, the latest increase is likely to raise operating expenses further, potentially triggering another round of price adjustments for consumers.
Analysts expect cooking gas prices to remain elevated in the near term unless supply conditions improve and the naira stabilises against major foreign currencies.
