Nigeria’s Cooking Gas Price Hits Record High: 1 Million Families Forced to Switch to Firewood
Soaring prices for cooking gas are crushing Nigerian households and small businesses.
A nationwide survey reveals that the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has surged dramatically, driven by global supply disruptions and long-standing domestic problems. The price surge is forcing millions of families to cut back on meals or switch to cheaper, less safe alternatives like firewood and charcoal [192790]. Small businesses, particularly roadside food vendors, report lower profits as they struggle to absorb the higher fuel costs. Many have been forced to raise prices, further squeezing their customers [192790].
Industry experts say the crisis stems from two main factors: a global shortage of LPG supplies and persistent issues within Nigeria’s own distribution network, including poor infrastructure, high import costs, and limited local refining capacity [192790]. Analysts warn that without urgent government intervention to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on expensive imports, the situation could worsen [192790].