The price of cooking gas has skyrocketed to N1,200 in certain parts of Nigeria. The development has led to an increase in concerns over the product that now sells for between N1,000 and N1,200. There are also fears that the price of the product may increase further even as the commodity experiences scarcity that has been attributed to supply disruption in recent days. As of Monday October 9, 12.5 kilogrammes of cooking gas was sold for N12,000 at some retail stations with a kg was sold for N1,150 and N1,200 in Lagos outskirts like Mowe, Ibafo and Magboro, among others, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.
On the Mainland, the product sold for between N850 and N1,100 as against N750 it was sold a week earlier with many families and businesses raising concern over the price hike. Daily Trust reported some centres witnessed long queues of cylinders even as the product was being awaited with a notice pegging 12.5kg at N8,500. A customer, identified as Mrs Suebat Ola drove all the way from Mowe, Ogun State, to buy the product in Lagos, lamenting the high cost of the product on the outskirts. She said, “I came all the way from Mowe to fill my cylinders because along our axis, it is sold at between N1,150 and N1,200 per kg and that would be over N12,000 for 12.5kg. This is too expensive. I don’t know how long we would continue to spend this much buying cooking gas.” Dense queues were also reported in gas stations across Kano metropolis as the product sold for between N880 and N1,000 per kilogramme as against N750 it was sold last week.
Meanwhile, vendors attributed the hike in cooking gas to the high cost of transportation occasioned by the high cost of diesel. The Kano State Secretary of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers of Nigeria (LIPGAR), Muhammad Omede, also blamed “the difficulties usually encountered by transporters due to poor road network, especially the Lagos-Kano road.” Some citizens attributed the gas price hike to the weak naira, limited bulk storage and scattered terminals among other factors. A gas retailer at Oshodi in Lagos, Chucks Okafor, said cooking gas users might pay N1,200 before the end of the week. He said: “The current price stands at N1,100 per kg, while 3kg and 6kg cost N3,300 and N6,600 respectively; a 12kg cylinder of cooking gas costs N13,200. “Many people who come to my store are shocked by the prices. Many walk away unable to make a purchase. I understand their plight, but as a retailer, my hands are tied too.” A Lagos resident, Mrs Adebayo Esther said, “Cooking gas has become a luxury we can barely afford. We used to cook three meals a day, but now we have had to cut back. It is disheartening.” A Chef, Maya said: “Our menu prices have had to increase, and customers are noticing. We fear losing our regulars due to the rising costs.”
(Daily Report)