Some Nigerians have expressed anger following a 70% increase in cooking gas prices, forcing many to abandon cleaner energy sources for primitive methods like charcoal and firewood.
The price increase has also affected small businesses struggling to stay afloat.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently reported a 69.15% increase in the 12.5kg refill price, jumping from N9,194 in July to N15,552.56 in August.
“I’m shocked and disappointed,” Abiodun Adeleke, an X user reacted. “Just months ago, 12.5kg of cooking gas cost N9,000. Now it’s N19,000 – a 100% increase in less than a year!”
Others have made known their intent to revert to using charcoal because it’s more affordable.
Caterers and food vendors, heavily reliant on cooking gas, are among the hardest hit.
Despite the removal of value-added tax (VAT) in October last year, prices continue to soar.
Olatubosun Oladapo, president of the Nigerian Association of Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketers, cited rising prices, high taxes, vessel prices, forex scarcity, and naira devaluation as key factors contributing to the price hike.
