A fresh wave of economic suffering leaves Nigerians reeling as the cost of cooking gas, or liquefied petroleum gas, has surged to N1,250 per kilogram.
This sudden increase – from less than N500 in 2018 – has shaken households throughout the country and placed further strain on an already overburdened populace.
As residents of the Federal Capital of Nigeria, Abuja struggle with the rising cost of living, frustration and rage simmer over dinner tables.
“How can we cook?” said Priscila Tumaka, an Abuja resident who works multiple jobs to support her family. “Everything is increasing, yet our salaries remain the same. Even making simple meals is becoming a luxury.”
For the many Nigerians who depend on LPG for their everyday cooking needs, the price increase is more than just a sting in the stomach.
The News Chronicles understands that the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that the average retail price of cooking gas in the country is currently N6,966.03 for a 5-kg refill. This represents an increase of 71.23 percent from June 2023 and adds to the misery of the populace.
To cover the increased expenses, many customers are modifying their budgets. While some are reducing other expenses, others are using different cooking methods. Households already under strain from rising living expenses are being made worse by the circumstances.
A businesswoman from the Dutse district of the Federal Capital Territory named Blessing Ogudu stated, “It’s getting unbearable to cook with gas now. We are now substituting with charcoal and firewood.”
Similar to Blessing, a large number of Nigerians have turned to unclean substitutes like firewood and charcoal because they cannot afford the products at the current high prices.
Many Nigerians’ health is negatively impacted by this, particularly that of mothers and children. In 2021, sources stated that the nation’s cooking smoke caused the deaths of over 90,000 women and children per year.
The number of casualties has increased to 98,000 women and children three years later, Emmanuel Uwandu, managing director and chief executive officer of Gas360, said. This indicates poverty and lack of access.
Uwandu stated, “Cooking with firewood and charcoal is the same as smoking 20 packs of cigarettes. For the average smoker, that is too much. However, this is the reality that Nigerian women face daily.”
“In Nigeria, the use of charcoal and firewood results in 98,000 deaths of women each year; that amounts to approximately 2,700 deaths per year throughout the 774 local governments.”
“In the Niger Delta alone, 21,000 women die as a result of firewood and charcoal use. If we bring this home to Akwa Ibom State’s 31 local governments, 75 women die each year from the use of firewood and charcoal.”
Just 10.5% of Nigerian homes, according to the NBS (2020) assessment, use cooking gas, whereas 68.3% use solid biomass. For cooking, 19.8% of people use paraffin and 1% use electricity.
According to the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), the naira’s ongoing depreciation versus the dollar is a major factor contributing to the increase in gas prices.
The president of NALPGAM, Olatunbosun Oladapo, recently disclosed that foreign exchange challenges are the primary cause of the increase in cooking gas retail prices.
According to him, the government has made efforts to ensure that the product is readily available. However because the depreciation of the naira has caused a sharp increase in commodity prices, he assigned the FG the duty of resolving these issues.
“The current state of affairs is regrettable as costs are rising and Nigerian consumers are facing severe hardships due to their inability to afford gas, forcing them to rely on firewood, charcoal, and sawdust for cooking,” he stated.
The president urged the administration to address the FX problem, relieve the general populace’s suffering through palliative measures, and lower taxes and levies.
Oladapo added that to lessen the impact on the general public, Nigeria LNG would need to prioritize meeting domestic demands over exports. He also urged marketers who had the option of purchasing goods locally to set pricing with consideration for the needs of their customers.
