Nigerian households got a breather in August as cooking gas prices dropped sharply, easing pressure on family budgets already strained by rising living costs.

According to the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder fell by 22.3 percent in just one month — from N8,243.79 in July to N6,404.02 in August.

While the August figure was only 0.4 percent lower than the same period in 2024, the steep month-on-month decline marked one of the sharpest drops in recent years.

The report showed wide variations across states. Katsina posted the highest average price for a 5kg refill at N6,945.21, followed closely by Taraba (N6,893.12) and Rivers (N6,886.49). On the flip side, Delta recorded the lowest at N5,657.50, with Bauchi (N5,721.75) and Borno (N6,070.56) also among the cheapest.

Regionally, the North-West had the highest average retail price for 5kg cylinders at N6,473.63, while the South-South offered the lowest at N6,331.29.

The downward trend was not limited to small cylinders. Prices for larger 12.5kg refills also tumbled, dropping by 21.4 percent from N20,609.48 in July to N16,195.07 in August. However, unlike the 5kg category, the 12.5kg price was still 4.1 percent higher than the N15,552.56 recorded in August 2024.

State-by-state analysis showed Yobe as the most expensive for a 12.5kg refill at N16,887.42, followed by Adamawa (N16,872.40) and Ebonyi (N16,859.17). Benue posted the cheapest at N15,102.50, with Borno (N15,176.39) and Imo (N15,177.58) close behind.

At the zonal level, the North-West again led with the highest average price for 12.5kg cylinders at N16,358.15, followed by the South-East at N16,344.61. The South-West recorded the lowest average at N15,865.17.

The NBS findings signal a welcome reprieve for households, offering some relief amid broader concerns about the rising cost of living across the country.