Marketers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, have blamed the recent surge in prices across Nigeria on increased demand, supply shortages and seasonal factors linked to the rainy season.
Spokespersons of the Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) and Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company Plc (NIPCO), Chinedu Ukadike and Taofeek Lawal, said in separate interviews that the imbalance between supply and growing consumer demand is responsible for the sharp increase in cooking gas prices in recent weeks.
Cooking gas prices have reportedly risen by between 40 and 66 percent in parts of Abuja and surrounding areas, with the cost climbing from between N1,000 and N1,200 per kilogram to as high as N1,400 and N2,000 per kilogram. The increase has added to the economic pressure on Nigerians already struggling with rising inflation and high living costs.
Ukadike explained that demand for cooking gas usually rises during the rainy season as many households reduce dependence on firewood. He added that supply constraints and scarcity of alternative cooking fuels have further pushed up prices, although he expressed optimism that prices would eventually drop as more operators enter the market.
Lawal also described the development as mainly a supply problem, noting that available LPG products are insufficient to meet the needs of consumers. Both marketers said improving supply and increasing market participation, including contributions from new operators such as Dangote Refinery, remain key to stabilising prices.