Cooking Gas Price Hits ₦25,000 in Kano as Scarcity and Supply Disruptions Spark Household Crisis

Households and small businesses in the Kano metropolis are grappling with a severe energy crisis as the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, has skyrocketed amid an acute scarcity. The cost of refilling a standard 12.5-kilogramme cylinder has surged to an alarming rate of up to ₦25,000, representing an increase of nearly 25% from the previous average of about ₦14,000.

A market survey conducted across various parts of the city shows that one kilogramme of the product now retails between ₦1,800 and ₦2,000, depending on the retail outlet. The soaring costs are compounded by long, frustrating queues at the few gas stations and depots that still have stock, while many independent dealers have been forced to shut down operations entirely after running out of supply.

Residents expressed deep frustration over the development, noting the heavy strain it places on already thin household budgets. Ms. Michelle Emeka, a resident of Sabon Gari, lamented the drastic drop in supply, stating, “You can see the queue. I’ve never seen this before.” Another resident, Saleh Idris of Rijiyar Zaki quarters, decried the daily escalation of the price, saying, “People are waiting on the queue for hours to get gas. The price is increasing daily.”

The scarcity is attributed to major disruptions in the supply chain, including reports of an industrial crisis involving a tanker drivers’ union and the Dangote Refinery, a key supplier of domestic gas. Additionally, the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has pointed fingers at some retailers, accusing them of “opportunistic” price gouging and exploiting the temporary supply gaps.

The adverse effect of the crisis is pushing numerous families to revert to cheaper, but less environmentally friendly, alternatives. Reports indicate a significant rise in the use of charcoal and firewood for domestic cooking, a trend environmentalists warn will exacerbate deforestation and air pollution across the state. Consumers and businesses alike are now urgently calling on the Federal Government to intervene to stabilise the market and restore a sustainable supply.