By Stephen Simon
Nigerians are facing fresh pressure from rising cooking gas prices following sharp increases in wholesale prices at several Lagos depots.
Data from petroleumprice.ng showed that the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas at Navgas depot rose from N1,250 per kilogramme on October 30 to N1,450 by November 2.
The increase came amid a wider upward movement in depot prices, with some suppliers raising their rates by between 13 and 16 per cent within four days.
The latest recorded wholesale median stood at N1,450 per kilogramme as of November 5, according to the price monitoring data.
The development is expected to affect household spending, particularly among families that rely on cooking gas as their primary source of domestic energy.
For a household refilling a 12.5kg cylinder, the cost of the gas alone could range from about N13,125 to N18,125, depending on the depot supplying the product, before transportation and retailers’ margins are added.
The rising cost has also renewed concerns about the affordability of cleaner cooking alternatives, with higher prices potentially forcing some low-income households to consider cheaper but less environmentally friendly fuels.
Industry monitoring reports have attributed the increase to rising wholesale costs and pressure on supply.
The latest development adds to the cost-of-living challenges confronting households already struggling with higher food, transportation and energy expenses.
