The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, has skyrocketed across major Nigerian cities including Lagos, Ogun, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Kano, Cross River, and Kaduna following a severe supply shortage triggered by a three-day strike by oil workers.
The industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), launched last week to protest staff retrenchments at Dangote Refinery, disrupted gas supply nationwide. Although the strike has since been suspended, the ripple effect has led to rationing, stock depletion, and soaring retail prices, with gas now selling for between ₦1,000 and ₦1,800 per kilogramme in affected areas.
Prices Hit the Roof in Abuja
In the Federal Capital Territory, the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder has jumped from around ₦13,000 to between ₦17,000 and ₦18,750, depending on location. In key districts such as Wuse, Garki, and Kubwa, LPG now sells between ₦1,350 and ₦1,500 per kg, while some outlets in Jabi price the same cylinder at about ₦17,000.
Many gas stations reportedly ran out of stock over the weekend, while others increased prices sharply to manage their limited supply.
Lagos and Ogun Residents Groan
Residents of Lagos and Ogun states have also been hit hard by the scarcity. As of last week, a kilogramme of gas sold for ₦1,000 in Lagos and ₦1,100 in Ogun, but prices surged to ₦1,300–₦1,400 by Saturday and peaked at ₦1,500–₦1,800 per kg by Sunday.
An attendant at Ogun Gas Station along Ibogun Road in Ifo Local Government Area confirmed to Peoples Talk that the scarcity began last Tuesday when their supplier failed to deliver the expected quantity.
“We were only managing the old stock until it finished on Saturday,” he said, noting that many outlets had since run out completely.
An Ogun resident, Mrs. Oluwole Adenike, lamented that she had to buy 2kg at a retail shop in her neighbourhood for ₦1,800 per kg after failing to get the product from two gas stations.
Similarly, Mr. Temidayo Ogunbowale, a Lagos resident, said he noticed the scarcity on Thursday when he tried to refill his cylinder. “The last time, I bought at ₦1,000 per kg, but this time, I paid ₦1,300,” he said.
Ibadan Also Feels the Heat
In Ibadan, Oyo State, residents have been struggling to get cooking gas since Friday. Most gas depots and retailers have either shut down due to lack of supply or raised their prices significantly.
Wholesale depots now sell between ₦1,000 and ₦1,100 per kg, up from ₦900–₦950 two weeks ago, while retailers charge between ₦1,300 and ₦1,500, and even higher in remote areas.
A check at a BOVAS Petroleum Station outlet on Saturday, October 4, 2025, showed LPG selling at ₦1,070 per kg, compared to ₦970 as of September 15, 2025.
Residents of Awotan, Apete, and Ido Local Government Area reported similar experiences, with queues forming at gas stations such as Gasland, where the price rose to ₦1,000 per litre.
One resident said, “Cooking gas has become scarce and expensive. We bought at ₦1,000 in Olodo on Thursday — something we never imagined two months ago.”
Another resident linked the scarcity to “the ongoing crisis involving tanker drivers and Dangote,” expressing frustration over the growing queues and uncertainty in supply.
A retailer in Awotan, who preferred not to be named, told Peoples Talk: “We don’t have it now. The last time we sold, it was at ₦1,400 per kg, but prices may rise further when supply resumes.”
A National Crisis in Waiting
With gas stations and retailers across the country struggling to restock, many Nigerians are turning to alternative cooking methods amid fears that the scarcity could persist if supply chains are not quickly restored.
Industry observers warn that without immediate government intervention to stabilize distribution and address industrial disputes within the energy sector, the hardship caused by the current LPG scarcity could worsen in the weeks ahead.
