Residents across Abuja are facing increasing frustration as the shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, worsens and prices continue to rise sharply.
In recent weeks, the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder has jumped to between ₦15,000 and ₦25,000, depending on the area. Checks around Kubwa, Lugbe, Dutse, and Nyanya show that only a few stations are still selling gas, while most outlets remain shut due to limited supply.
At major filling stations such as those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), NIPCO, and AYM Shafa Energy, gas sells for around ₦1,200 per kilogram, but smaller marketers charge between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000, depending on location.
Several residents have described the situation as stressful and unsustainable.
“I spent hours searching for where to refill my cylinder before finally getting gas at ₦2,000 per kg,” said Bello Abdullahi, who lives in Kubwa.
Another resident, Rita Nwagwu from Dutse, said she had to travel several kilometres before finding a vendor. “Most stations in my area were not selling. I eventually got gas at Zone 6 for ₦2,000 per kg,” she said.
The situation is not limited to Abuja alone, as residents in Lagos have also reported similar price hikes and scarcity in recent weeks.
Industry experts say the crisis stems from several factors, including last month’s PENGASSAN strike that disrupted operations at the Dangote Refinery, ongoing maintenance at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility, and reduced supply as the refinery enters the LPG market.
The Group CEO of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, explained that the brief strike caused supply disruptions, while Oladapo Olatunbosun, President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), attributed the problem to “artificial scarcity” caused by hoarding and price manipulation.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, had earlier vowed to sanction marketers inflating prices, but many residents say no tangible action has been taken as they continue to feel the impact of the crisis.
With prices climbing and supplies drying up, many households are now turning to alternative energy sources or reducing cooking to cut costs.
