By Toheeb Omotayo
Residents of Kwara State have decried the sharp increase in the price of cooking gas, with the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas rising to as much as N2,200 per kilogram in some parts of the state, worsening the hardship faced by households and small businesses.
A survey conducted by Arewa PUNCH across Ilorin and other communities in the state revealed that many residents are struggling to cope with the latest hike, forcing some families to cut consumption and consider reverting to charcoal and firewood despite concerns over health and environmental implications.
A resident of the Sobi area of Ilorin, Abdulganiyu Obanguru, described the increase as a painful reminder of the country’s worsening economic situation.
“The last time I bought gas, it was about N1,150 per kilogram. To my surprise, I got to the gas station and discovered that it had risen to N1,750 per kilogram,” he said.
“My target was to buy 8kg, but I ended up buying 6kg instead. Everything is going up at a speed nobody seems able to control. You plan your budget in the morning and by afternoon it is already outdated.”
According to him, many Nigerians have been forced to abandon long-term plans and focus solely on daily survival.
“Nigeria is gradually becoming a place where survival takes priority over living. Comfort is no longer a goal; just getting by is,” he added.
Another resident, Aishat, from the Alagbado area of Ilorin, said the latest increase had become unbearable for low-income earners.
“Before Salah, cooking gas was selling for about N1,300 per kilogram. Just a few days later, I was told it had risen to N2,000 per kilogram.
“How are we supposed to cope? Most people could not afford it when it was cheaper, let alone now that the price has increased again,” she lamented.
She appealed to the government to intervene and address the rising cost of living.
Similarly, a resident of Shitta Alimi, Rafat Kolawole, said many households were finding it increasingly difficult to afford cooking gas.
“A few days ago, I gave my children money to refill our cylinder and they came back telling me the price had increased to N2,000 per kilogram.
“What exactly is happening in this country? I am used to cooking with gas and I do not even own a charcoal stove. The government should please intervene because we are tired already,” she said.
A housewife, Ruqoyat Ayelabowo, who visited Ilorin during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, said the rapid increase in prices had left many families stranded.
“On the eve of Salah, we bought cooking gas at N1,600 per kilogram. The following day, my neighbour bought hers at N1,800. When we returned a few days later to refill our cylinder, we were charged N2,200 per kilogram.
“They are increasing prices anyhow. Government should swing into action because people can no longer afford gas, charcoal or even firewood conveniently,” she said.
Findings by Arewa PUNCH showed that the development is not limited to Ilorin, as residents across several towns in Kwara State reported paying between N1,900 and N2,200 per kilogram depending on location and retail outlet.
In Offa Local Government Area, some retailers were reportedly selling LPG for as much as N2,300 per kilogram.
A food vendor in the Atari area of Offa, Mrs Kafilat Ibrahim, said the increase had significantly affected her business.
“Before now, I used to refill my gas twice every week and still make a reasonable profit. Today, I spend far more on gas than before.
“I have not increased the price of my meals because customers are already complaining about the cost of food. The result is that my profit keeps shrinking every day,” she said.
She disclosed that some food vendors had already returned to using firewood because they could no longer cope with the rising cost of cooking gas.
Also speaking, a commercial motorcyclist in Offa, Sulaiman Adebayo, described cooking gas as gradually becoming a luxury item.
“When a family has to choose between buying food and refilling a gas cylinder, then things are no longer normal.
“We hear that Nigeria has abundant gas resources, so it is difficult to understand why ordinary citizens are paying this much,” he said.
A civil servant in Ijagbo, Bose Adeyemi, lamented that stagnant wages and rising prices were placing unbearable pressure on households.
“My salary has not increased, yet everything else keeps increasing. Transportation is expensive, food is expensive and now gas is becoming unaffordable.
“Many families are simply managing and cutting down on necessities,” she said.
In Patigi Local Government Area, a resident, Mohammed Sani, warned that many families were already reconsidering their reliance on LPG.
“When the cost of refilling a cylinder consumes a significant part of a household’s income, people naturally begin to seek alternatives. Unfortunately, those alternatives come with their own challenges,” he said.
Industry stakeholders attributed the increase to rising foreign exchange rates, higher importation costs and transportation expenses.
Marketers said the cost of a 20-metric-tonne truck of LPG had risen to between N25.2m and N26.2m, a development that has pushed retail prices upward across the country.
Experts also blamed the continued depreciation of the naira and difficulties in accessing foreign exchange, noting that these factors have increased the cost of importing and distributing cooking gas despite Nigeria’s huge natural gas reserves.
Arewa PUNCH reports that Nigeria has one of the largest natural gas reserves in Africa, and successive governments have promoted the adoption of LPG as a cleaner alternative to firewood and kerosene.
However, industry operators have repeatedly warned that rising cooking gas prices could reverse gains made in clean energy adoption, as more households may be forced to return to traditional cooking methods.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has also cautioned that sustained increases in LPG prices could worsen economic hardship and undermine efforts to promote cleaner energy use among households.
For many residents in Kwara State, the pressing concern remains how to afford the next gas refill amid rising inflation and shrinking incomes.
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