Many Nigerian households are being forced to make difficult choices to cope with the rising expense of this essential commodity as the cost of refilling cooking gas continues to surge.
The latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows a significant increase in the average price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, adding to the burden of Nigerians already grappling with high inflation and economic strain.
The average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas rose by 7.69 percent in April 2025 to N7,885.60, up from N7,322.49 in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the increase is even more stark, 20.92 percent higher than the N6,521.58 recorded in April 2024.
For larger families depending on a 12.5kg cylinder, the situation is bleaker.
The average price rose by 9.82 percent to N20,268.06 in April 2025, up from N18,456.24 in March. Compared to April 2024, when the price was N15,637.74, this marks a 29.61 percent increase.
Mary Effiong, a caterer, wife, and mother of four, voiced her frustration over the rising cost of gas.
“My children are used to boiling water every time they want to bathe, but with the way gas prices keep skyrocketing, I’ve had to stop them,” she said.
“If there’s no electricity to use the kettle, everyone has to bathe with cold water. Even at my restaurant, we turn off the burner the moment nothing is cooking. There’s no room for ‘I’m washing rice, I’ll use the gas soon,’” she added.
Favour Okpara, a youth corps member, also shared her coping mechanism. “Most times, I end up buying food outside just to save gas.”
Read also: Top 10 countries where cooking gas costs the least in 2025
While gas prices are rising nationwide, the impact is uneven across states.
Households in Rivers State paid the highest average price for a 5kg refill in April at N9,103.82, followed by Ebonyi at N8,867.24 and Akwa Ibom at N8,655.59.
In contrast, Niger State recorded the lowest average at N7,006.15, closely followed by Plateau at N7,014.87 and Kebbi at N7,032.11.
These disparities highlight the uneven economic pressures faced by Nigerians depending on their region.
A zonal analysis reveals that the South-South region recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N8,447.78, followed by the South-East at N8,351.29. The North-Central had the lowest average at N7,432.22.
For the 12.5kg cylinder, Imo State recorded the highest average retail price at N22,938.73, followed by Delta at N22,831.70 and Rivers at N22,759.56. On the lower end, Kebbi had the cheapest refill at N18,080.27, followed by Nasarawa and Kwara at N18,106.85 and N18,173.67, respectively.
Regionally, the South-South again led with the highest average for a 12.5kg refill at N21,536.12, followed closely by the South-East at N21,528.23. The North-Central zone recorded the lowest average price at N19,330.55.
With the continued rise in cooking gas prices, many Nigerians are questioning how long they can sustain the financial strain.
For households already stretched by surging food prices, rent, and transport costs, the rising cost of cooking gas is yet another blow.
A previous report by the NBS revealed that 67.8 percent of Nigerian households now rely on fuelwood for cooking, with 40.7 percent having purchased it recently.
This shift to traditional fuels like firewood, charcoal, and kerosene poses environmental and health threats.
The widespread use of these fuels contributes to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation, worsening Nigeria’s ecological challenges.
Health experts, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), have warned that indoor use of firewood and charcoal generates toxic smoke, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases, especially for women and children.
In February 2024, the federal government banned the export of LPG in a bid to stabilise domestic prices.
However, the policy has done little to reverse the trend, and many households across the country continue to face an uncertain future, where even the simple act of cooking is becoming a luxury.
