The cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has surged sharply across several Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Ogun, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Cross River, Kano, and Kaduna, following a nationwide shortage.

The scarcity was sparked by a three-day strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which disrupted gas supply and distribution across the country. The union had embarked on the strike last week to protest the dismissal of some workers at the Dangote Refinery. Although the strike has since been suspended, its brief disruption left many depots dry, causing rationing and steep price hikes.

Across the country, the price of cooking gas has risen from an average of ₦1,000 per kilogram to between ₦1,600 and ₦1,800. In Abuja, refilling a 12.5kg cylinder now costs between ₦17,000 and ₦18,750, depending on the location. In districts such as Wuse, Garki, and Kubwa, LPG sells for between ₦1,350 and ₦1,500 per kilogram, while some outlets in Jabi charge about ₦17,000 for a 12.5kg refill.

Many retailers in the city reported running out of stock over the weekend, while those still in operation increased prices significantly. A similar situation has been recorded in Lagos and Ogun States, where the price per kilogram soared from about ₦1,000–₦1,100 last week to between ₦2,300 and ₦3,000.

The sharp hike has forced many households and small businesses to ration usage or revert to alternative sources such as firewood, charcoal, and electric stoves. Several gas plants have also shut down temporarily due to depleted reserves and rising transportation costs. At gas outlets in Abule-Egba and Ogba, long queues of customers were seen, but no attendants were available to serve them.

A Lagos resident, Olalekan, told Lagos Eye News that his family has switched to an electric cooker due to the high cost of gas.

“I have moved on because I can’t starve my family due to the hike in gas prices. I am now using an electric stove since I have prepaid meter and there’s electricity in my area at Gbagada,” he said. “The government should resolve this scarcity quickly. Many residents are turning to firewood and charcoal, but even those are expensive and harmful to health and the environment.”

In Surulere, another resident, Rasheedat Ola, said the impact of the scarcity is particularly severe for food vendors.

“Though I still have enough gas to last until next month, many food vendors have already switched to firewood and charcoal. The government is making livelihood difficult for Nigerians, and if this continues for another month, it will not be easy,” she lamented.

As prices continue to soar daily with no immediate relief in sight, Nigerians are increasingly worried about the effect of the crisis on household expenses, small businesses, and public health.