The cost of cooking gas in Nigeria has surged again, with retail prices reaching about N1,700 per kilogram in some markets. At that rate, refilling a 12.5kg cylinder costs roughly N21,250, putting more pressure on households already grappling with inflation and high living costs.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ Liquefied Petroleum Gas Price Watch, the average price of a 12.5kg cylinder climbed to N19,652.83 in March 2026. That’s a 15.62% increase month-on-month from N16,997.94 in February. State-level data shows wide disparities: Nasarawa posted the highest average refill cost for 12.5kg at N23,418.12, while Bauchi had the lowest at N6,295.40 for a 5kg cylinder.
The latest spike is linked to global energy market shocks. Reports from August 2026 note that depot prices rose to N21 million per 20 metric tonnes, pushing retail prices to about N1,500 per kg. Some locations have quoted as high as N1,700 per kg, depending on distribution costs and retailer margins. Industry players attribute the rise to the Middle East crisis, which disrupted oil and gas supply routes and pushed international LPG prices upward. Nigeria imports a portion of its LPG, so global price changes quickly affect local markets even with domestic production from NLNG and Dangote Refinery.
Supporters of President Bola Tinubu argue that these challenges are part of broader economic reforms aimed at fixing structural issues in Nigeria’s energy sector. The removal of fuel subsidies and efforts to boost local refining capacity, including supply from Dangote Refinery, are presented as long-term measures to reduce dependence on imports and stabilize prices. Dangote has been supplying LPG at lower ex-depot rates of about N845/kg, though limited volume means it has not fully offset market-wide increases.
Critics counter that the immediate impact on households is severe. With food inflation and transportation costs also high, many families are reverting to charcoal and firewood. Dealers report falling sales as consumers cut back. The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has appealed to the public not to direct anger at retailers, saying the hike is driven by international trends and limited supply…See More
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