By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Households across Nigeria are beginning to pay less for cooking gas as improved local production and increased imports boost supply. The price reduction, recorded in major cities in late June 2026, follows government intervention against hoarding and lower depot prices. Industry stakeholders say the trend is easing pressure on consumers, although transportation costs still keep prices higher in some locations.
Improved Supply Pushes Cooking Gas Prices Lower
The National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Edu Inyang, said improved supply from local producers and importers has softened retail prices.
According to him, cooking gas now sells between N1,100 and N1,350 per kilogramme in Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta.
Consumers in Benin City, Port Harcourt and Warri currently pay between N1,150 and N1,400/kg.
In Onitsha and Enugu, prices range from N1,200 to N1,450/kg. Meanwhile, residents of Abuja buy cooking gas at N1,250 to N1,500/kg.
Northern cities such as Kano and Kaduna record prices between N1,300 and N1,550/kg. However, Maiduguri and parts of the North-East still have the highest prices, ranging from N1,350 to N1,650/kg because of higher transportation costs.
Overall, Inyang said the national retail price now ranges between N1,100 and N1,650 per kilogramme. However, some neighbourhood retailers still charge more because of distribution expenses.
Retailers Confirm Steady Market Recovery
The National Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Ayobami Olarinoye, also confirmed that the market is gradually stabilising.
According to him, retailers now buy cooking gas from plant operators at N1,300 to N1,500/kg, depending on location.
They currently sell to consumers between N1,600 and N1,800/kg, with logistics remaining a major pricing factor.
“The inflow and supply are gradually getting back to normal. There is more availability,” Olarinoye said.
Government Intervention Supports Market Stability
Earlier this year, cooking gas prices surged by about 140 percent in many parts of Nigeria.
Prices climbed from around N1,000/kg in January and February to as much as N2,400/kg between May and June.
As supply tightened, marketers concluded plans to import large volumes of LPG to improve availability and affordability.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority also issued licences for LPG imports after local production failed to satisfy domestic demand.
Furthermore, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, warned operators against hoarding products and inflating prices.
Industry operators believe those measures helped restore confidence and improve product availability.
Cylinder Refill Prices Begin to Ease
Based on current market prices, consumers now pay between N5,500 and N8,250 to refill a 5kg cylinder.
A 6kg cylinder costs between N6,600 and N9,900 to refill.
Likewise, refilling a 12.5kg cylinder now costs between N13,750 and N20,625, depending on location and retailer.
Logistics Still Influence Retail Prices
Despite the recent decline, marketers caution that prices have not fully stabilised nationwide.
Communities located far from major LPG depots continue to pay higher prices because transportation expenses remain significant.
Nevertheless, industry operators expect prices to decline further if local production remains steady and imports continue without disruption.
Inyang also attributed the recent price reduction to stronger competition among marketers and the end of panic buying, which previously tightened supply.
He expressed optimism that sustained supply improvements would continue to make cooking gas more affordable for Nigerian households.
