By Bello Gideon (SIWES student, AAPOLY)
A shortage of liquefied petroleum gas, commonly known as cooking gas, has impacted various states in Nigeria, including Lagos, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Delta, Kaduna, and others.
The price of cooking gas has been steadily rising, with a 66% increase in October alone. The cost of a 20 metric tons of cooking gas surged from N10 million at the beginning of the previous month to N16 million by the end, despite Nigeria LNG (NLNG) supplying it at N9 million.
A recent market survey conducted by The PUNCH revealed that a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas now sells for between N13,500 and N14,000 in the black market.
Gas plant owners are selling to retailers at higher prices, ranging from N1,100 to N1,200 per 1kg due to a lack of sufficient supply.
This situation marks a significant increase from June when the price of a 12.5kg cylinder was approximately N8,700, and in September, it had risen to N10,200. As of the most recent report, the price had further escalated to between N13,500 and N14,000.
The President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Oladapo Olatunbosun, stated that there is currently an insufficient supply of cooking gas in Lagos state, urging consumers to avoid those who don’t have gas plants as they add to the problem by inflating prices.
Similar reports of cooking gas scarcity and price hikes have been observed in Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Kano.
In Kano, the resurgence of cooking gas scarcity has led to panic buying, with prices ranging from N850 to N950 per kilogram.
Long queues are now common at filling stations selling the commodity. In Delta State, the price of cooking gas has risen to N1,100 per kilogram, up from N800 per kilogram in October.
The reasons for these price increases remain unclear, with both gas dealers and officials declining to comment on the issue.
