The pain is hitting the average income earners as cooking gas is expensive again, and Nigeria is highly terrible.
The power supply is not stable enough to use an electric cooker, so the majority of the population uses a gas cooker to cook, but as cooking gas is expensive again in Nigeria, a lot are already pressured for a way out.
Imagine people going to the gas filling station to fill their 12kg gas cylinder, but on getting there, they could not afford more than 8kg. Some might end up not even buying and go back home to use charcoal or firewood.
This is because cooking gas is expensive again in Nigeria in 2026, and they find charcoal or firewood affordable.
How Much Is Cooking Gas Actually Costing Nigerians Right Now
The price of cooking gas jumped from around ₦1,200/kg earlier in May to ₦1,500/kg and above within a short period as at 25 May, 2026.
It was confirmed by the National Bureau of Statistics that the average retail price for refilling a 12kg cylinder is ₦22,382.20 as of May, which increased by 13.89% compared to the former price. The increase in the price of cooking gas has become a burden for an average-income earner with a minimum wage of ₦70,000. Filling a 12kg cylinder consume 25% of their entire monthly salary.
The biggest deal is that we produce this gas
It is so funny to hear that we produce cooking gas; the consumption for Nigerians is highly expensive. Nigeria is one of the top countries in Africa producing oil and gas; however, the citizens suffer most in the oil and gas sector.
Angola, which happens to be one of the oil and gas countries, charges its citizens ₦109 per kg, but Nigerians charges its citizens ₦1,500 to ₦2,000 per kg. Among other oil and gas producing countries, Nigeria charges its citizens high compared to countries not even produce oil and gas at all.
The major reasons why we produce the raw material and make it so expensive as a finished product are:
· Poor gas processing infrastructure
· Weak local refining/processing capacity
· Heavy reliance on dollar-priced imports and services
· Inefficient distribution network
· Nigerians Now Use Cooking Gas as Fuel
Nigerians are paying among the highest prices in the world for cooking gas while earning among the lowest wages. This is not just a market problem, however a collective problem of a broken chain in the production process and a crisis of basic human affordability.
What Nigerians Are Being Forced to Do Because Cooking Gas is Expensive Again
As cooking gas is expensive again in Nigeria, citizens are forced to fall back to using charcoal or firewood. This is actually an old style of cooking which has a lot of stress and inconveniences. There was a time the coal stove was modernized such that it can operate like a gas cooker. However, it still differs from gas cooker.
The reason for the switch to using gas cylinders is the friendly nature of the gas cooker, which can be easily used just with a single light on the burner. However, for a coal stove/cooker, it is quite difficult because lighting the charcoal takes time and even produces smoke, which means it can’t be used in a closed room except in an open space.
The rate at which firewood and charcoal are being prioritized and sold out this period are so alarming, thereby causing more harm to forests. This is because cooking gas is expensive again in Nigeria in 2025.
Final Thoughts as Cooking Gas is Expensive Again
Energy experts say LPG prices are heavily influenced by international market trends and exchange rates, which makes local consumers vulnerable to global oil market fluctuations. This means prices might not fall significantly until global oil prices stabilize, including other controllable factors by the government.
Some analysts have proved that the major reason why cooking gas is expensive again in Nigeria is because of the US-Iran war. This is valid; however, there are some factors also influencing this increase, most especially reliability on the import of finished products, even though we produce the crude oil. If these factors are not fixed, the price will continue to rise and fall, leading to a return to using charcoal or firewood.
We want to hear from you. How much are you paying for cooking gas right now, and what are you doing to manage it? Tell us in the comment box.
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