For the fifth straight month, the cost of cooking gas in Nigeria has continued to rise, putting pressure on already burdened households across the country. What was once considered a modern household essential is now becoming increasingly unaffordable for many families.
Blessing Johnson, a 38-year-old tailor and mother of three from Warri, Delta State, shared her struggle. “Last year, I could refill my 12.5kg cylinder for around N15,000. Now, it’s over N21,000,” she said. “I’ve had to reduce how often I cook, or switch to kerosene, which is also expensive. It feels like there’s no way out.”
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average cost to refill a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) increased by 1.92% in June 2025, reaching ₦8,323.95 compared to ₦8,167.43 in May. While this monthly rise may appear modest, the year-on-year increase is much more significant — up 19.49% from ₦6,966.03 in June 2024.
The larger 12.5kg cylinders reflect a steeper climb. The average refill cost in June stood at ₦21,010.56, marking a 1.46% increase from May’s ₦20,709.11. Compared to June 2024, when the price was ₦15,736.27, this represents a sharp 33.52% surge.
State-level data highlights regional disparities in pricing. Delta State recorded the highest average refill cost for a 5kg cylinder at ₦9,243.38, closely followed by Cross River (₦9,193.16) and Rivers (₦9,188.51). For 12.5kg cylinders, Delta also topped the list at ₦23,108.44, with Cross River (₦22,982.89) and Rivers (₦22,971.27) trailing behind.
Meanwhile, states like Oyo (₦7,100), Plateau (₦7,200), and Yobe (₦7,600) offered some of the lowest average prices for 5kg refills. Yobe also had the lowest average price for a 12.5kg refill at ₦19,000, followed by Niger (₦19,242.48) and Jigawa (₦20,025.94).
Regionally, the South-South zone had the highest average refill price for a 5kg cylinder at ₦8,871.63, while the South-West had the lowest at ₦7,960.42. The pattern was similar for 12.5kg cylinders, with South-South residents paying ₦22,179.08 on average compared to ₦20,402.42 in the South-West.
Despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria remains heavily dependent on LPG imports. This reliance exposes local prices to global market fluctuations. Disruptions in supply chains, rising international demand, and global geopolitical tensions have all contributed to higher LPG prices, which are then passed on to Nigerian consumers.
Currency instability adds another layer of difficulty. With the naira weakening against the dollar, importers face higher costs, which are reflected in local retail prices.
“Gas pricing is now closely tied to global energy markets and currency strength,” said energy economist Dr. Sola Adeyemi of the University of Lagos. “Until domestic production catches up, Nigerians will keep feeling the ripple effects of international developments.”
Government efforts to encourage the use of LPG as a cleaner alternative to firewood and charcoal have led to rising demand. However, domestic production and infrastructure development have not kept pace.
Storage issues, poor distribution networks, and high transportation costs — especially in remote areas — continue to push prices upward.
In 2024, the Federal Government halted the export of locally produced LPG to stabilize local supply and pricing. But nearly a year later, many Nigerians say the expected relief has yet to materialize.
For some families, the rising costs have forced lifestyle adjustments. In urban areas, some households now cook just once a day and reheat leftovers. In rural communities, many have returned to using firewood, sparking environmental and health concerns.
“In my village, more people are cutting trees because gas is unaffordable,” said Fatima Musa, a food vendor in Bauchi. “It’s cheaper, but the smoke affects our health.”
Stories of adaptation are widespread. Blessing Johnson, for instance, now plans her cooking around her children’s school hours to reduce waste. She has also started introducing cold meals into their diet to conserve gas.
In Port Harcourt, software developer Chidi Nwosu and his neighbors now pool resources to buy gas in bulk, sharing the cost to ease the financial burden. “We’ve made it a community effort. It’s not ideal, but it helps,” he said.
Small businesses are also feeling the impact. In Lagos, Modupe Alade, who runs a local restaurant, noted that her gas expenses have doubled over the past year. “We’ve had to cut our menu and refill less often. Customers aren’t happy, but we have no choice.”
Experts warn that without major investments in local production, infrastructure, and currency stabilization, the trend may persist. Dr. Adeyemi stressed the need for new processing plants, better storage solutions, and improved distribution systems.
“If we don’t fix the fundamentals, we’ll be revisiting this same issue next year,” he said.
For now, many Nigerians continue to navigate the rising costs of cooking gas with hope and resilience.
“All I want is to cook for my kids without thinking twice about the gas,” Blessing said quietly. “That shouldn’t be a luxury.”