Cooking gas prices have surged sharply across Nigeria, prompting the Federal Government to order a crackdown on marketers accused of hoarding and exploiting consumers.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, announced the directive on Monday, saying the government would not tolerate actions that deepen hardship for households already grappling with high living costs.
According to a statement signed by the minister’s spokesman, Louis Ibah, Ekpo expressed concern over the soaring prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which have jumped from an average of ₦1,000 per kilogram to as high as ₦2,000/kg in some cities.
He urged Nigerians to remain calm, assuring that the price spike was temporary and would “normalise by next week.”
Ekpo explained that two major factors triggered the surge, the recent industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and ongoing maintenance activities at the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Train 4 facility.
He said the strike at the Dangote refinery had “temporarily halted LPG loading,” while NLNG’s maintenance “reduced the volume of gas available in the domestic market.”
Almost two weeks after the strike was suspended, however, prices have failed to ease. Many gas retailers continue to report limited stock, worsening the scarcity and driving costs higher across major cities.
Lagos, Abuja Households Hit Hardest
In Lagos, prices have skyrocketed to between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000 per kilogram, with a 12.5kg cylinder now costing between ₦21,600 and ₦26,000, depending on the area.
Around Amuwo Odofin, some residents pay as much as ₦26,000, or roughly ₦2,080 per kilogram, for refills.
In Abuja, prices are slightly lower but still burdensome for families, with a 12.5kg cylinder selling for about ₦20,000 (₦1,600/kg) around Nyanya. Residents say several gas plants and filling stations have run dry, forcing many to rely on street vendors selling at inflated prices.
Data Shows Earlier Price Relief Before Spike
Ironically, official data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had shown a downward trend in cooking gas prices before the latest surge.
The NBS reported that the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of LPG fell by 22.32% month-on-month, from ₦8,243.79 in July to ₦6,404.02 in August 2025.
Similarly, the average cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder dropped by 21.42%, from ₦20,609.48 to ₦16,195.07 during the same period.
