The National Bureau of Statistics says the average price of a five-kilogramme cooking gas increased from N7,655.73 recorded in March to N8,706.93 in April.

The NBS said in its Cooking Gas Price Watch for April that the April price represented a 13.73 per cent increase compared to March. The report said the average price of 5 kg of cooking gas increased year on year by 10.42 per cent to N7,855.60 from N7,855.60 recorded in April 2025.

It also said that the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas cylinder increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month, from N19,652.83 in March 2026 to N22,382.20 in April 2026.

On a year-on-year basis, the average retail price for 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06 in April 2025. The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers attributed the current LPG price increase to supply shortages.

The association disclosed that cooking gas now sells between N1,500 and N1,700 per kilogramme, while marketers pay between N25.2 million and N26.2 million for a 20-metric-tonne truck of liquefied petroleum gas, depending on the location.

Also, experts have attributed the current, persistent increase in LPG prices to rising global energy prices, exchange rate volatility, and supply distribution challenges. An energy expert, Chris Mordi, said the LPG market in Nigeria remained heavily influenced by international energy costs and foreign exchange fluctuations.

According to him, temporary shortages at depots, inadequate storage infrastructure, and high logistics costs continue to affect product availability and retail prices despite improvements in local production.

Mr Mordi added that the U.S.-Iran conflict had also affected LPG imports, with global LPG benchmarks rising and driving domestic prices higher.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have continued to urge the federal government to reduce cooking gas prices to ease household financial burdens. Many Nigerians are reverting to charcoal and firewood due to the persistent rise in cooking gas prices.

However, stakeholders warn that this trend could undermine Nigeria’s progress toward cleaner, more sustainable energy.

More details from the report showed that on state profile analysis, Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a five kilogramme at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74. It said that Anambra recorded the lowest price at N7,204.76, followed by Ondo and Ogun at N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively. 

Analysis of the six zones showed that the North-West recorded the highest average retail price at N9,025.07 for five kilogrammes of cooking gas, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16. The South-East recorded the lowest average retail price at N8,224.37.

For refilling a 12.5kg cylinder, the report showed that Katsina recorded the highest average retail price at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.

The report also showed that the lowest average price for refilling 12.5kg of cooking gas was recorded in Ogun at N19,564.36, followed by Bauchi and Anambra at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90, respectively.

Analysis by zone showed that the North-West also recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29.

The report said the South-East also recorded the lowest refilling price for a 12.5kg cylinder at N21,060.92.

(NAN)