Households across Nigeria are reeling after the cost of refilling a12.5 kg cylinder of cooking gas jumped to ₦17,500 up from ₦12,750 just within a week, with many retailers now selling,1 kg of LPG between ₦1,350 and ₦1,500.
The sudden spike is being blamed on a strike by workers from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN), which forced many gas plants to shut down. Dangote has been a major supplier in the LPG market, but marketers say the company has delayed releasing loading invoices to its clients, some for over three weeks, forcing them to buy gas from
other, more expensive suppliers.
With supply tight and demand still strong, many marketers say they had little choice but to raise prices. “No one wants to keep an empty plant,” argued the president of the Nigerian LPG marketers association. For most Nigerians, this sudden increase in cooking gas price hits hard, especially when other living costs are high. Many may be forced to cut back on how often they cook, switch to the use of firewood and charcoal, and subsequently pay more for food.
Given the pace of the increase, it’s more than just a nuisance. It’s a real strain on household budgets. The marketers are urging Dangote to release gas to more vendors quickly, hoping that increased supply will help bring down prices.
