Some cooking gas sellers in Enugu have lamented low patronage following the rise in liquefied petroleum gas prices, saying many residents have resorted to using charcoal as a cheaper alternative.

On Wednesday, the sellers attributed the decline in sales to the rising cost of cooking gas nationwide.

They appealed to the federal government to intervene by addressing the factors driving rising prices to ease the economic hardship already faced by Nigerians.

A gas retailer, Emmanuel Okam, described the situation as discouraging, noting that his sales had dropped significantly compared to previous months.

According to him, customers who previously bought five kilograms of gas now purchase only two kilogrammes due to the high cost.

“Business is no longer what it used to be. Before now, I could refill up to five or six cylinders in a week, but demand has dropped sharply due to high gas prices.

“I buy gas at about N1,600 per kilogram from suppliers and sell to households at about N1,850. Even at that, many customers cannot afford to buy the quantity they need,” he said.

Mr Okam explained that he had reduced his profit margin to attract customers, but still struggled to make reasonable sales.

“Before, I could sell about 60kg in a week, but now I hardly sell half of that quantity. It is affecting my income and my ability to meet family and other financial obligations,” he added.

He urged the government to work with gas suppliers to reduce LPG costs, saying that any reduction at the source would ultimately benefit consumers.

Ifeanyi Maduka also blamed the economic situation for the decline in patronage.

“Nigeria is really affecting all of us. Gas that used to sell for between N400 and
N500 has risen to over N1,000, while fuel prices have also increased. Everything is becoming more expensive in Nigeria,” he stated.

Mr Maduka noted that although customers still visited his outlet, purchase volume had declined considerably due to dwindling purchasing power.

“Customers are coming, but not like before, because money is not circulating. Gas prices are no longer stable. A supplier can increase the price at any time, which affects retailers and consumers alike,” he said.

He added that while some outlets sold gas for as high as N2,000 per kilogramme, others sold it between N1,800 and N1,900, and his outlet sold it at N1,750 per kilogramme.

A housewife, Ukamaka Okoro, said the high cost of gas forced her to reduce the quantity she used to buy.

“I used to buy seven kilogrammes of cooking gas, but when I went to buy a few days ago, I was told that a kilogramme now costs N1,850. I don’t have an option but to reduce the quantity. I am a secondary school teacher, and I appeal to the government to do something urgently to reduce the burden on low-income earners like us,” Okoro said.

(NAN)