Despite a recent National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report showing that the average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) dropped from ₦8,243.79 in July to ₦6,404.02 in August 2025, retail gas prices in Lagos and Ogun have spiked sharply.
A market survey by another online news media – The Guardian– reportedly found that a kilogram now sells between ₦1,800 and ₦3,500, depending on the area, forcing many households to seek cheaper alternatives.
At Ijeshatedo in Lagos, a weary consumer said, “Retailers are selling between ₦3,000 and ₦3,500 per kilogramme, while filling stations sell slightly lower at ₦2,500. But the queues are unbearable, with hundreds of customers waiting.”
She recalled spending hours the previous day searching for gas before giving up. According to her, the situation has become “unbearable,” pushing residents to charcoal or electric cookers.
Residents of Atan in Ogun State said they bought between ₦2,000 and ₦2,500 per kilogramme under tough conditions, while those in Igando, Lagos, reported prices ranging from ₦1,800 to ₦2,000.
Marketers Blame Strike, Refinery Maintenance
President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Olatunbosun Oladapo, said the sudden price surge was caused by a supply disruption triggered by the PENGASSAN strike and internal maintenance at the Dangote Refinery.
“At the moment, I can tell you authoritatively that most of our LPG supply is produced locally. Importation is minimal. In fact, if you import now, you might incur losses because local supply has increased significantly,” Oladapo explained.
He said the strike disrupted vessel berthing at Lagos terminals, while the NLNG had supplied Port Harcourt in large volumes, helping the South-South avoid scarcity. He assured that normalcy should return soon as suppliers resume full-scale loading.
Questions About Domestic Gas Policy
Energy law expert and Partner at Bloomfield LP, Dr Ayodele Oni, said the frequent LPG shortages despite higher domestic production show weak policy linkage between upstream output and local supply.
He explained, “Domestic gas sales rose by about 22% year-on-year to roughly 65,632 metric tonnes in March 2025, but much of the LPG is monetised through exports instead of being channelled into local bottling and retail.”
Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
