Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the continuous increase in the price of household Kerosene.

The residents, who spoke on Sunday in Abuja, expressed their views on how the increase was affecting them.

The recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the average price per litre of kerosene increased by 136.04 per cent in one year from N467.97 recorded in December 2021 to N1,104.61 in December 2022.

On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 1.94 per cent from N1,083.57 recorded in November 2022 to N1,104.61 in December 2022.

Similarly, the average retail price of a gallon of kerosene increased on a year-on-year basis by 137.15 per cent from N1,582.73 recorded in December 2021 to N3,753 in December 2022.

Agatha Kalu, a public servant and mother of three, said the incessant increase in kerosene had made her switch to cooking gas as her cooking source.

“Kerosene is N1,100 per litre, while one kg of gas is N950. I use one litre of kerosene just to boil water for bathing which lasts for two days but I use 1 kg of gas to boil water and cook for three days.

“Yes, gas is expensive but it is still cheaper for me to use compared to kerosene as I have explained.”

Esther John, a hairdresser and mother of one, said she switched to cooking gas because she could no longer cope with the increasing price of kerosene.

“I have stopped using kerosene for over six months. I had to close my eye and buy a 12.5kg gas cylinder. I usually buy N5,500 and it serves me for not less than a month plus if I use it every day,” she said.

Jumoke Balogun, a trader, said she had to buy a charcoal stove because she could not keep up with the increasing price of kerosene.

“I used to use a kerosene stove to fry groundnuts, but because of the price I bought a charcoal stove as an alternative to kerosene and it is cheaper.

“You can get charcoal for as low as N200 and it serves me longer than if I buy a litre of kerosene at N1,100,” she said.

Helen Adejoh, a businesswoman, said she had also switched to charcoal as an alternative to kerosene. However, she said charcoal had some disadvantages.

“I use charcoal when I am cooking for a large number of people but one disadvantage is the challenge of lighting it during the rainy season.

“It also brings out fumes slightly and over time it accumulates everywhere, especially if the charcoal you are using is not properly burnt.”

Chioma Nwachukwu, a public servant, said though she still had her kerosene stove, she used more gas to cook because it was cheaper and a neater and healthier source of cooking.

“When you use kerosene you keep washing your pots because the smoke stains them. I only use it once in a while, It is just a standby in case my gas finishes when I am cooking.

“Government should see how they can bring down the price of kerosene because it is what is easily accessible to the masses, therefore, they should make it available and affordable,” she said. 

(NAN)