Cooking Gas Shortage Drives Prices to N3,000 per kg in Lagos, Ogun

Despite the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reporting a decline in the average cost of refilling a 5kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder from N8,243.79 in July to N6,404.02 in August 2025, a market survey reveals a starkly different reality, with retail prices skyrocketing to N1,800–N3,500 per kilogram in parts of Lagos and Ogun states.In Ijeshatedo, Lagos, consumers face long queues and frustration, with retailers charging N3,000–N3,500 per kilogram, while filling stations offer slightly lower rates at N2,500, often overwhelmed by hundreds waiting. One consumer described spending hours searching for gas, only to give up, highlighting the growing scarcity and cost. Many households are now turning to electric or charcoal alternatives due to the unbearable situation. In Atan, Ogun State, prices range from N2,000–N2,500 per kilogram, while Igando residents report paying N1,800–N2,000, with availability remaining a major challenge.Olatunbosun Oladapo, President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), attributed the price surge and scarcity to a temporary supply disruption caused by the PENGASSAN strike and maintenance at the Dangote Refinery. He noted that while the strike affected vessel berthing in Lagos, the South-South region faced less scarcity due to large NLNG supplies to Port Harcourt. Oladapo assured that normalcy would return soon as Dangote and other suppliers resume full operations, emphasizing that local LPG production now far outweighs imports.Energy law expert Dr. Ayodele Oni of Bloomfield LP pointed out that, despite a 22% year-on-year increase in domestic gas sales to 65,632 metric tonnes in March 2025, periodic shortages persist because a significant portion of locally produced LPG is exported rather than bottled for domestic use. This export focus, he argued, undermines availability and drives up retail prices, leaving Nigerian consumers grappling with both cost and access challenges.

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