The average price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, increased by 3.32% month-on-month, rising from N6,699.63 in September 2024 to N6,915.69 in October 2024. This was revealed in the latest Cooking Gas Price Watch report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
On a year-on-year basis, the price of cooking gas recorded a significant 51.58% increase, up from N4,562.51 in October 2023 to N6,915.69 in October 2024.
The report highlighted disparities, with the North-East recording the highest average price, making residents in the region pay the most for cooking gas. According to the report, the average price of a 5kg cylinder of LPG in the North-East geo-political zone stood at N7,319.03.
Conversely, the North-West geo-political zone recorded the lowest average price at N6,703.95, which falls below the national average.
State-by-State Analysis
The report also provided a breakdown of prices across states in October 2024:
• Borno recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas at N7,939.29, followed by Yobe at N7,580.00 and Benue at N7,578.00.
• Katsina had the lowest average price at N6,270.00, followed by Zamfara at N6,410.71 and Delta at N6,427.78.
Price of 12.5kg Cooking Gas
The data also showed that the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of LPG increased by 2.58% month-on-month, rising from N16,313.43 in September 2024 to N16,734.55 in October 2024.
• On a year-on-year basis, the price rose by a staggering 58.68%, up from N10,545.87 in October 2023.
State-by-State Analysis:
• Rivers recorded the highest average price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N17,895.00, followed by Osun at N17,739.06 and Benue at N17,731.25.
• Katsina recorded the lowest price at N14,725.00, followed by Nasarawa at N15,390.55 and Adamawa at N15,474.21.
Zonal Analysis:
• The South-South region recorded the highest average price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N17,114.67, followed by the South-East at N16,906.61.
• The North-Central region had the lowest average price at N16,411.19.
Why This Matters
• The monthly rise in cooking gas prices compounds the financial burden on households already struggling with inflationary pressures from higher food and transport costs.
• The persistent increase over the past 12 months risks driving vulnerable households to revert to firewood or other polluting energy sources for cooking, undermining efforts to reduce dependence on firewood and coal.
• Such a shift could hinder Nigeria’s environmental and health objectives, including reducing indoor air pollution and deforestation.
