CSOs slam soaring 44% hike in cooking gas prices

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have raised alarm over the sharp rise in the price of cooking gas across Nigeria, condemning what they describe as a dangerous trend that is worsening poverty, straining households, and threatening environmental sustainability.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) July 2025 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Price Watch Report, the average retail price of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas surged by 44.51% year-on-year, climbing from ₦14,261.57 in July 2024 to ₦20,609.48 in July 2025.

Although the report noted a modest 1.91% decline month-on-month between June and July 2025, civil society actors say the overall yearly spike paints a troubling picture for energy affordability in Nigeria.



Reacting to the figures, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, described the development as a “bad signal” with serious socio-economic consequences.

“The fact that cooking gas prices have risen by 44% in one year, compared to an inflation rate of 22%, shows a dangerous trend,” Mamedu warned.

“This erodes disposable incomes, pushes families further into poverty, and forces them to unsafe alternatives such as firewood and charcoal.”

He cautioned that the shift back to firewood would accelerate deforestation, worsen climate change, and endanger public health, particularly among women and children exposed to indoor smoke inhalation.

Mamedu criticised the government’s inability to resolve bottlenecks in the gas sector despite policies aimed at stabilising prices.

“We still have oil companies flaring gas, Niger Delta logistics bottlenecks, and inadequate investment in distribution infrastructure.

If the government is serious, it must ease transportation costs, incentivise operators, or consider limited subsidies to protect households,” he added.



Similarly, Munachi Ugochukwu, Programme Officer at Christian Aid Nigeria, said the Federal Government must adopt a more deliberate approach to stabilising the LPG market.

“The government needs a comprehensive, realistic intervention plan.

Regulators, investors, and operators must sit at the same table to strike a balance between fair competition and consumer protection,” Ugochukwu stressed.

He noted that while the Dangote Refinery has announced plans to supply over 22,000 tonnes of LPG daily to bring down prices, some market players fear the dominance of a single supplier.

“Consumers will support any move that makes gas cheaper. But this must not create a monopoly.

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission should convene a dialogue to resolve these tensions,” he advised.



The price surge comes despite previous measures taken by the Federal Government to prioritise domestic LPG supply.

In October 2024, the government banned the export of locally produced cooking gas to ensure adequate domestic availability.

The directive, which took effect from November 2024, was expected to stabilise prices.

However, the latest NBS report suggests that the policy has not delivered significant relief.

Instead, Nigerians are grappling with one of the steepest gas price surges in years, raising questions about implementation gaps, infrastructure weaknesses, and the role of middlemen in the distribution chain.



The NBS analysis revealed stark regional disparities in gas pricing.

For a 5kg cylinder, Adamawa, Rivers, and Taraba recorded the highest average prices at ₦9,011.36, ₦9,005.00, and ₦8,945.43 respectively.

Yobe, Niger, and Nasarawa posted the lowest prices, ranging from ₦7,612.00 to ₦8,000.25.

For the 12.5kg cylinder, Adamawa again topped the chart at ₦22,528.39, followed closely by Rivers and Taraba.

The lowest prices were recorded in Yobe (₦19,030.00) and Niger (₦19,154.99).

Zonal breakdown showed the South-South leading with the highest average price, followed by the South-East, while the South-West recorded the lowest.




The steep rise in gas prices also threatens Nigeria’s clean energy agenda, which seeks to transition households away from biomass cooking methods to safer, eco-friendly fuels.

Analysts warn that the price surge undermines this goal, as more families revert to charcoal and firewood, increasing deforestation and carbon emissions.

“Unless urgent steps are taken, the government’s clean cooking initiative will fail,” said an energy policy expert in Abuja.

“Nigeria cannot meet its climate targets if households cannot afford LPG.”



Experts and CSOs are calling for a multi-pronged approach that includes:

Infrastructure investment to expand LPG storage and distribution.

Targeted subsidies or tax waivers to cushion poor households.

Effective enforcement of anti-hoarding rules to curb artificial scarcity.

Stakeholder dialogue to balance market competition with consumer protection.

Monitoring of Dangote Refinery’s entry to ensure fair pricing without monopolistic practices.


For millions of Nigerians, affordable cooking gas is not just about convenience but about health, safety, and survival.

With households already squeezed by inflation, stagnant wages, and rising energy costs, the latest 44% surge may push many over the edge unless swift action is taken.