The cost of cooking gas has surged sharply across Nigeria, with prices reaching ₦2,000 per kilogram in some areas, leaving many households struggling to cope.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) says the increase is not due to any official price adjustment but rather a result of temporary supply challenges and market manipulation by some traders.

NALPGAM President Oladapo Olatunbosun, speaking on Channels Television, said the recent PENGASSAN strike and maintenance work at the Dangote Refinery disrupted supply and created shortages that some marketers exploited to raise prices.

He explained that before the disruption, the refinery supplied about 50 trucks of LPG daily, helping to balance supply across the country. But when operations slowed, many marketers turned to Apapa depots, which soon ran dry due to the ongoing strike.

Olatunbosun described the situation as temporary, saying that supply is already improving and prices should stabilise soon. He urged consumers to buy directly from registered gas plants, where rates remain between ₦1,000 and ₦1,300 per kilogram, instead of from middlemen who inflate prices.

He also noted that Nigeria’s domestic gas consumption has risen significantly—from 1.2 million to nearly 2 million metric tonnes in three years—making the market more sensitive to supply disruptions.

Olatunbosun assured that NALPGAM is working with government agencies to restore steady supply and normal pricing in the coming days.