Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, has reached about ₦1,500 per kilogramme in parts of Nigeria, adding fresh pressure to household energy budgets as consumers continue to contend with elevated living costs.
Recent market monitoring indicates that LPG prices remain uneven across the country, with retail rates generally ranging from about ₦1,300 to ₦1,600 per kilogramme, depending on location, supply conditions and distribution costs.
For a household buying a 12.5kg cylinder at ₦1,500 per kilogramme, the refill would cost approximately ₦18,750.
Cooking Gas Prices Remain High Across Nigeria
The latest price pressure comes despite improvements in LPG supply earlier in the year, when prices declined from much higher levels recorded during periods of shortage.
LPG market data from August showed prices ranging from approximately ₦1,200 to ₦1,500 per kilogramme across selected Nigerian locations, with the average cost of a 12.5kg refill in the surveyed areas estimated at about ₦16,847.
More recent market intelligence for September indicates that prices remain location-dependent. LPGinNigeria reported retail prices of about ₦1,300 per kilogramme in Lagos, Asaba and Agbor, ₦1,400 in Lokoja, ₦1,450 in Nasarawa and ₦1,475 in Port Harcourt, with prices reaching as high as approximately ₦1,600 in some areas.
The figures mean that consumers are not facing a uniform national retail price. Transportation costs, proximity to supply points, dealer margins and local availability continue to influence what households pay.
Depot Prices Also Show Fresh Pressure
Upstream LPG prices have also started moving higher.
Market data published on September 15 showed Dangote Refinery’s LPG price at ₦980 per kilogramme, up from ₦970, while NIPCO was listed at ₦1,050 and Matrix Warri at ₦1,100 per kilogramme.
A separate market update dated September 16 placed the median depot price at about ₦1,050 per kilogramme, with Dangote at ₦980, Navgas and Ardova at ₦1,050, NIPCO Lagos at ₦1,050 and Matrix Warri at ₦1,100.
Depot prices are not the same as what households pay at retail outlets. Retail prices also incorporate transportation, storage, handling, distribution and other operating costs.
This means sustained increases at the depot level can eventually place additional pressure on household prices if they are passed through the supply chain.
Earlier Supply Crisis Pushed Prices Much Higher
Nigeria’s LPG market has experienced significant price volatility in 2026.
In May, the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) raised concerns about erratic supply and warned that cooking gas prices had climbed to as much as ₦1,500 per kilogramme in some locations.
The association said marketers were paying between ₦25.2 million and ₦26.2 million for 20 metric tonnes of LPG, depending on location.
Prices subsequently climbed even higher in some markets. THISDAY reported in June that LPG had reached about ₦2,000 per kilogramme at some Lagos retail outlets, while larger gas plants were selling at around ₦1,700 per kilogramme.
The severe price increases contributed to pressure on households and businesses that depend on LPG for cooking and other activities.
Supply Improvements Brought Some Relief
The market later recorded an improvement.
By late June, reports indicated that cooking gas prices had fallen significantly following improved supply and lower depot prices. The PUNCH reported that retail prices in several major cities had declined, although the reductions varied from one location to another.
In Abuja, for example, prices were reported at between ₦1,250 and ₦1,500 per kilogramme, while several southern cities recorded lower ranges.
The subsequent market stabilisation demonstrated how strongly domestic LPG prices can respond to changes in product availability.
However, the return of prices around ₦1,500 per kilogramme in some locations shows that affordability remains a challenge even when the market is better supplied than during the earlier shortages.
Impact on Households and Small Businesses
The rising cost of cooking gas has implications beyond household food preparation.
Many restaurants, food vendors, bakeries and other small businesses depend on LPG as a major energy source. When the cost of gas rises, operators can face higher production expenses, potentially putting pressure on the prices consumers pay for prepared food and other services.
For households, the effect is particularly significant because cooking gas is a recurring expense rather than a one-time purchase.
A family using a 12.5kg cylinder at ₦1,500 per kilogramme would require roughly ₦18,750 for a refill. If consumption increases or the cylinder needs to be refilled more frequently, the cumulative monthly burden can become substantial.
Some consumers have historically responded to sharp LPG price increases by reducing gas consumption or switching partly or entirely to alternatives such as charcoal, kerosene and firewood.
Such changes can also carry wider implications for household welfare, energy access and environmental conditions.
Nigeria’s Domestic Gas Supply Remains Important
The affordability of LPG is closely connected to Nigeria’s broader effort to expand domestic gas utilisation.
Nigeria has significant natural gas resources, and increasing domestic use of gas has been a recurring component of government and industry plans aimed at expanding access to cleaner household and industrial energy.
Trust Radio reported that indigenous refineries, including NLNG, supplied a large share of Nigeria’s cooking gas requirements in 2025, with domestic producers playing an important role in the country’s LPG market.
However, having substantial gas resources does not automatically guarantee stable retail prices. The final cost to consumers is influenced by production, imports, international LPG benchmarks, exchange-rate movements, transportation, storage infrastructure and the efficiency of domestic distribution networks.
Why the Price Matters
The movement toward ₦1,500 per kilogramme matters because LPG has become an increasingly important cooking fuel for Nigerian households.
When the price rises, families must either allocate more of their income to energy or find ways to reduce consumption.
For businesses, higher LPG costs can increase operating expenses and eventually affect consumer prices.
The situation also highlights the importance of maintaining reliable supply throughout the distribution chain. The experience of 2026 shows that LPG prices can change considerably when supply becomes constrained and can ease when product availability improves.
What Happens Next?
The immediate direction of cooking gas prices will depend on several factors, including domestic supply, depot prices, international LPG benchmarks, import availability, exchange-rate movements and transportation costs.
LPG market monitoring indicates that prices could face further upward pressure if higher international benchmarks continue to feed into domestic depot prices. At the same time, increased domestic production and improved cargo availability could help moderate prices.
For consumers, the key issue remains whether recent increases at the wholesale level will translate into sustained higher retail prices or whether improved supply will help contain the pressure.
As Nigeria continues to pursue greater domestic gas utilisation, the affordability and reliability of LPG will remain important indicators of how effectively the country’s gas resources are reaching ordinary households and businesses.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Trust Radio / Daily Trust
- The PUNCH
- THISDAY
- Channels Television
- LPGinNigeria
- PetroleumPriceNG market data as reported by Awajis
