Ilorin, Nigeria – Residents of Kwara State are grappling with yet another economic blow as the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, has skyrocketed to as high as N2,200 per kilogram in several parts of the state, compounding the hardship faced by households and small businesses.
The sharp increase, which represents a nearly 30% rise in some areas over the past few weeks, has forced many families to abandon gas cookers in favour of traditional firewood and charcoal, while small-scale food vendors are either raising prices or struggling to break even.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the state capital, a mother of three, Mrs. Funke Adebayo, described the situation as unbearable. "I used to refill my 12.5kg cylinder for around N15,000. Now I am being told it will cost over N25,000. How is a ordinary worker supposed to cope? We are going back to kerosene and firewood," she lamented.
A food seller at Oja-Oba market, Alhaji Sanni Usman, said his daily expenses have more than doubled, forcing him to reduce portion sizes and increase prices. "My customers are complaining, but what can I do? A small refill that cost me N4,000 last month is now N7,000. If this continues, many of us will shut down," he said.
The price hike is not peculiar to Kwara. Nationally, the cost of cooking gas has been on a steady rise due to a combination of factors, including the continued depreciation of the naira, increased global crude oil prices, high logistics costs, and the removal of the subsidy on LPG imports. Industry sources also point to the unavailability of foreign exchange for importers and the high cost of local production as major drivers.
Kwara residents have called on both the federal and state governments to intervene urgently. Some suggested a temporary price control mechanism or a targeted subsidy for low-income households, similar to the current arrangement for premium motor spirit (petrol).
"We are not asking for free gas, but the government must do something to bring down this price," said Mr. Tajudeen Oladimeji, a civil servant. "Cooking gas is no longer a luxury; it is a basic necessity. When families cannot cook, it leads to health problems from smoke inhalation, deforestation from firewood use, and increased poverty."
The National LPG Expansion Plan, launched by the federal government years ago to promote cleaner cooking energy, appears to be stalling as affordability becomes the main barrier. Kwara State has yet to announce any state-level intervention, although officials have acknowledged the rising cost of living in recent budget reviews.
Energy analysts warn that without a sustained policy response—including improving local refining capacity, stabilizing the naira, and reducing multiple tax burdens on LPG importers—the price of cooking gas may remain elevated for the foreseeable future.
As households in Ilorin, Offa, Omu-Aran, and other parts of Kwara adjust to the new reality, many are calling for an urgent meeting between the state government and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to explore solutions.
"We are tired of lamenting," said Mrs. Adebayo. "We need action."
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