Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have decried the continuous increase in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), known as cooking gas.
The recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the price of 5kg cooking gas increased by 86.62 per cent in one year from N2,397.60 recorded in September 2021 to N4,474.48 in September 2022.
While on a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 0.40 per cent from N4,456.56 recorded in August 2022 to N4,474.48 in September 2022.
Christain Ikechukwu, a public servant, said the constant increase had made him reduce the quantity of cooking gas he bought.
“My wife and I decided we had to cut down on the quantity of gas we buy from 12.5kg to 5kg. In addition, we bought an electric cooker to alternate the use of cooking gas,” said Mr Ikechukwu.
He added, “Since more of my income is going to purchasing gas and income has not increased, we have had to cut down on other expenses in the home front.”
Glorious Oni, a retired civil servant, said the increase had affected her negatively, causing financial stress.
“Life is not easy for a retiree, especially a government retiree. The increase in gas has added to the hardship being experienced by retirees,” she said.
Ms Oni explained that she had not considered an alternative to cooking gas because, for her, it was better than cooking with firewood, kerosene or electricity.
Blessing Samuel, a restaurant owner, lamented the increasing gas prices adversely affected her business and profit margin.
“In a week, we spend nothing less than N43,000 on just gas, compared to N15,000 we used to spend before. That is just for gas, we have not talked about food items that are so expensive,” Ms Samuel disclosed. “Even if you want to use charcoal, it is still the same thing because a bag sells for N5,000. So if we are spending all that money on gas, how can you make any reasonable profit?’’
Patrick Idoko, a businessman, said his family had to make lifestyle adjustments to accommodate the increasing gas prices.
“A cut in necessities as much as possible has become imperative, for instance, a reduction in call time, except when necessary, reduction in outings, and so on to save money as much as possible,’’ he said.
Dorcas Ogiemwonyi, a civil servant, saw the rising cooking gas pricee as a serious problem which the government must address urgently.
Ese Williams, a civil servant, described the development as pathetic, wondering why gas prices keep increasing, noting that the “increase in the price of gas is eating deep into our meagre resources. Cooking with firewood or charcoal is not an option for me.”
The civil servant urged the federal government to reverse the trend.
(NAN)
