Lagos, Nigeria — October 14, 2025:
The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has surged to an all-time high in Lagos, piling pressure on households and small businesses already battling rising living costs.
As of Monday, a kilogram of LPG sold between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000 across various parts of the state — nearly three times higher than the average ₦1,000 per kg recorded in August.
Market surveys revealed that refilling a standard 12.5kg gas cylinder now costs over ₦25,000 in areas like Amuwo Odofin, Surulere, and Ikeja, compared to less than ₦13,000 just two months ago.
FG Orders Clampdown on Hoarders
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has ordered immediate enforcement actions against marketers allegedly hoarding gas or inflating prices.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Louis Ibah, the minister described the situation as “unacceptable” and vowed that the government would not allow a few operators to exploit citizens.
“The government will not stand by and watch Nigerians suffer due to the actions of a few. Regulatory agencies have been directed to take immediate action against any form of product hoarding or unjustified price hike,” Ekpo said.
He added that normal supply and price stability are expected to return within a week once distribution challenges are resolved.
Supply Disruptions Blamed
Industry sources linked the latest surge to two major supply disruptions — the recent PENGASSAN strike at the Dangote Refinery and ongoing maintenance work at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility, both of which have significantly reduced domestic gas output.
Although the strike was suspended almost two weeks ago, supply levels remain unstable. Reports from Apapa and Ikeja gas depots on Monday showed several storage terminals operating below capacity, with long queues of tankers waiting to load.
Consumers Count the Cost
The price spike has hit both households and small-scale food vendors, many of whom now struggle to afford daily refills. Some have resorted to using charcoal or kerosene, further stoking fears of a return to less clean energy sources.
A caterer in Surulere, identified as Mrs. Adesina, lamented the impact:
“Last month I bought gas for ₦14,000. Now it’s ₦26,000. If this continues, many of us will close shop.”
Data Shows Sharp Reversal
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that the average retail price of a 12.5kg cylinder dropped by 21.42% to ₦16,195.07 in August 2025, following earlier government interventions.
However, the recent surge has now completely erased those gains, with prices climbing to unprecedented levels.
