Monday, October 6, 2025 - The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known
as cooking gas, has surged sharply across Lagos and other parts of the country,
forcing households and small businesses to adjust their budgets and consumption
patterns.
Checks by The Nation showed that the retail price of LPG has
risen from about N1,000 per kilogram to N1,500 in the last few days following
the industrial action embarked upon by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAN) against Dangote Refinery.
At several gas plants visited across Lagos, including
Ajuwon, Magodo, and Iju-Ishaga, long queues of anxious consumers were seen
waiting under the sun to refill their cylinders.
Many lamented that the sudden jump in price had worsened the
cost-of-living pressure already weighing heavily on households.
At the Amego gas retail plant along Ajuwon-Akute road, Mrs.
Grace Ajayi, who came to refill her 3-kilogram cylinder, expressed frustration.
“This small cylinder that I used to fill for N3,000 is now
N4,500. I am a trader, and I cook twice a day for my children. If this
continues, I will go back to charcoal. It is stressful but at least it is
cheaper,” she said, clutching her cylinder.
Beside her, another resident, Anthony Igwe, who uses a
5-kilogram cylinder, said the hike has forced him to ration cooking time.
“I am now calculating everything I put on the fire. I told
my wife we can’t boil water to bathe anymore to save gas.”
At the Second Coming Gas Plant in Magodo, The Nation
observed a wave of panic buying.
Residents were seen rushing to fill multiple cylinders at
once, with some loading two or more 12.5-kilogram cylinders in their car boots.
The attendant on duty said the rush started two days ago
when news spread that depot prices had jumped sharply due to supply disruption.
Operators in the LPG market confirmed that the industrial
action has disrupted supply lines from the refinery, forcing marketers to
depend on limited stock and imports at higher rates.
A Lagos gas dealer, Mr. Kola Ogunleye, said the sudden
shortage and panic buying have further driven up prices.
“The strike affected loading and distribution for some days,
and by the time supply resumed, depot prices had already gone up.
“Everyone down the chain is adjusting, and that’s what
consumers are seeing now,” he explained.
Consumer protection advocates warn that the situation could
worsen unless the federal government intervenes to stabilise supply and enforce
fair pricing. Economists note that the hike in cooking gas prices could
heighten inflationary pressure, as food vendors and households depend heavily
on LPG for daily cooking.
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