The price of cooking gas (LPG) has gone up sharply in many Nigerian cities such as Lagos, Ogun, and Ibadan due to scarcity.
The shortage was caused mainly by a three-day strike by oil workers, which disrupted gas supply across the country.
Prices also increased in other states like Port Harcourt, Cross River, Kano, and Kaduna.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) went on strike last week to protest the sacking of some workers at the Dangote Refinery.
Although the strike has now been suspended, the temporary halt in supply caused many gas stations to run out of stock and led to rationing.
In many places, the price of cooking gas has jumped from about ₦1,000 per kilogram to between ₦1,600 and ₦1,800.
In Abuja, refilling a 12.5kg cylinder now costs between ₦17,000 and ₦18,750, depending on the area. In districts such as Wuse, Garki, and Kubwa, a kilogram of LPG sells for between ₦1,350 and ₦1,500. Some gas outlets in Jabi sell a 12.5kg cylinder for about ₦17,000.
Many retailers in Abuja said they had run out of stock by Sunday morning, while those who still had gas raised their prices.
In Lagos and Ogun States, gas prices also increased sharply. A kilogram sold for ₦1,000 in Lagos and ₦1,100 in Ogun last week, but by the weekend, prices rose to between ₦1,300 and ₦1,800 per kilogram.
An attendant at Ogun Gas Station in Ifo said the shortage began last Tuesday when new supplies stopped coming. By Saturday, the old stock had finished.
A resident of Ogun State, Mrs. Oluwole Adenike, said she could not get gas from two stations and had to buy at a nearby retail shop for ₦1,800 per kilogram. “I only bought 2kg to manage until the price comes down,” she said.
In Lagos, Mr. Temidayo Ogunbowale said he noticed the scarcity on Thursday. “The last time, I bought gas at ₦1,000 per kg, but this time, it was ₦1,300,” he said.
The situation in Ibadan, Oyo State, is similar. Residents said gas has been scarce since Friday, with many stations closed due to a lack of supply.
Those still selling had long queues of buyers.
Prices at depots went up from about ₦900–₦950 per kg to ₦1,000–₦1,100. Retail shops now sell between ₦1,300 and ₦1,500, and even higher in remote areas.
At BOVAS Petroleum Station, a kilogram sold for ₦1,070 on Saturday, October 4, compared to ₦970 three weeks earlier.
In areas like Awotan and Apete, residents also reported difficulty finding gas. A retailer in Awotan said, “We don’t have gas now.
The last one we sold went for ₦1,400 per kg.”
Residents believe the crisis is linked to ongoing disputes between tanker drivers and Dangote Refinery.
One resident said, “I have never seen this kind of queue before. It may be because of the Dangote and tanker drivers’ crisis.”
Overall, the shortage of cooking gas continues to affect homes and businesses across the country as prices rise daily.