KEY POINTS
- Cooking gas prices in Lagos have risen sharply to about ₦1,250–₦1,500 per kg, forcing households to reduce cooking frequency and adjust meals.
- Marketers blame foreign exchange instability, import dependence, transport/logistics costs, and global energy pressures for the price surge.
- Residents, food vendors, and small businesses are adopting coping strategies such as reduced cooking, portion cuts, and switching to alternative fuels like kerosene and firewood.
Residents in Lagos State are grappling with a steady rise in cooking gas prices, which has significantly increased financial pressure on households and small businesses.
A market survey in areas such as Festac Town and other parts of the state shows that cooking gas now sells between ₦1,250 and ₦1,500 per kilogram, with an average price of about ₦1,350 per kilogram.
The increase has forced many families to rethink their daily cooking habits, with some reducing the number of meals prepared each day.
For many households, the rising cost has become part of a broader struggle with inflation and the increasing cost of basic living.
Gas marketers attribute the continuous price hike to a combination of economic and structural challenges affecting Nigeria’s energy market.
A gas station manager in Festac Town explained that foreign exchange instability remains the most significant driver, since gas is largely imported and paid for in foreign currency. He added that exchange rate pressure alone accounts for a large portion of the cost increase.
Other factors include high transportation costs, import duties, licensing fees, and additional informal charges within the distribution chain. According to him, moving five tonnes of gas from depots to retail outlets can cost about ₦250,000, further squeezing margins for marketers and increasing prices for consumers.
He also pointed to global disruptions, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as contributing to supply uncertainties and rising costs.
Households adjust cooking habits to survive rising costs
The impact of the price surge is being felt most directly at the household level, where families are adjusting their lifestyles to cope with higher costs.
A resident and teacher, Grace Ekot, said rising gas prices are now affecting essential household spending, including school fees and transportation. She explained that her family now cooks only once daily and plans meals more carefully to conserve gas.
Some households also rely on electric cookers when electricity supply is stable, while others focus on preparing quicker meals that require less gas usage.
Food vendors and small business owners are also under pressure as rising input costs reduce profit margins.
A food vendor, Aminat Wasiu, said she can no longer increase food prices in line with rising gas costs, leading to declining profits. In response, she has reduced portion sizes and occasionally switches to alternative fuels such as charcoal or firewood.
The rising cost of energy is therefore not only affecting households but also threatening the sustainability of small-scale food businesses.
Other residents, including tradespeople, say they are increasingly relying on mixed cooking energy sources to manage expenses.
A plumbing expert, Kazeem Lawal, noted that prices vary significantly across locations, prompting residents to travel farther distances in search of cheaper gas. He added that many households now alternate between cooking gas and kerosene stoves depending on affordability.
Some families also try to maximise gas usage by completely exhausting cylinders before refilling, in an effort to reduce waste and control spending.
