KEY POINTS

• Cooking gas has risen to as high as ₦1,500 per kg from about ₦1,300.
• Marketers say they now pay up to ₦26.2 million for 20 metric tons.
• NALPGAM warns families are reverting to firewood and charcoal.

Cooking gas prices have climbed to as high as ₦1,500 per kilogram, up from about ₦1,300, and marketers are warning that a deepening scarcity could spark public anger. The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers raised the alarm in a statement on Sunday. Moreover, the group urged the government and regulators to act before the crisis worsens.

What is driving the cooking gas crisis

NALPGAM said its members struggle to source the product because of persistent shortages, high depot prices and logistics bottlenecks. Specifically, marketers now pay between ₦25.2 million and ₦26.2 million for 20 metric tons, depending on location. Therefore, where gas is available, it sells at rates many Nigerians cannot afford.

The association called the situation “sad and rather very pathetic,” noting that cooking gas should be an everyday essential. However, it has become a luxury for millions of households. Indeed, the group warned that public frustration could turn against filling-station owners if nothing changes.

Nigeria holds vast natural gas reserves, yet it still imports much of the cooking gas it uses. Consequently, local prices stay exposed to global shipping costs and the naira. Industry watchers also link part of the recent squeeze to disruptions in global production and shipping earlier this year. LPG use has grown rapidly across Nigeria over the past decade as families abandoned dirtier fuels.

Households slipping back to firewood

The squeeze is reshaping how families cook. A standard 12.5-kilogram cylinder now costs far more to refill, straining households that switched to gas only in recent years. According to NALPGAM, many now struggle to refill at all, while small food vendors fold under rising costs. Therefore, many families are returning to firewood and charcoal, despite the risks to health and the environment.

The marketers said the trend threatens years of progress. Specifically, government policies, private investment and awareness campaigns had pushed millions toward cleaner cooking and away from kerosene and firewood. Now, those gains look fragile. Additionally, the group warned that prolonged scarcity could fuel food inflation, force LPG retailers out of business and cost jobs.

Marketers’ call to government

NALPGAM appealed to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the NMDPRA and the NNPC to stabilize the market quickly. Specifically, it asked for more domestic LPG allocation, fairer distribution across regions and fewer bottlenecks in importation and storage. Meanwhile, it pressed for steps to steady retail prices and protect consumers.

The group also called for fresh investment in storage and distribution infrastructure, along with policies that keep gas affordable over the long term. Together, those measures, it argued, would rescue a sector that underpins both household budgets and Nigeria’s clean energy goals. Until supply improves, however, many families face a hard choice between costlier gas and a return to smoky, hazardous alternatives.