FCT residents seek reduction in cooking gas prices

By Ibrahim Yusuf, Ifeoluwa Omosebe, Salamatu Muhammed, Miriam Ihezie & Al-Mustapha A. Mustapha

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have welcomed the recent reduction in the prices of cooking gas but say the cost remains beyond the reach of many households, urging the government to take further steps to make the commodity more affordable.

Speaking at NIPCO Gas Station in Jabi, Rosemary Vincent said although the price of cooking gas has dropped slightly compared to previous weeks, it is still too expensive for the average Nigerian.

“The price has reduced a little, unlike the last time I bought gas. I had paid about N1, 900 per kilogram. Although it is now N1, 500 per kilogram; it is still too high and has made life very difficult for many people,” she said.

She appealed to the government to intervene by introducing measures that would reduce the cost of cooking gas and make it more affordable for low-income earners.

At Vegas Gas Limited, also in Jabi, another resident, Emmanuel Okeke, described the recent drop in cooking gas prices as a positive development but noted that many families are still struggling to buy the commodity despite the drop in price.

“The reduction is a welcome relief because people are paying less than they did a few weeks ago. However, the current price is still high for many households. With food prices, transportation and other living expenses increasing, many families still find it difficult to refill their gas cylinders regularly,” he said.

Okeke called on the government to strengthen local production of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), improve distribution networks and reduce the cost of transporting the product across the country.

According to him, increasing domestic production and ensuring a steady supply of cooking gas would help stabilise prices and make the product more accessible to ordinary Nigerians.

Other residents, spoken to, said the price of gas per kilogram in their areas range between N1,400 and N1,500.

They described the reduction as a relief compared to the N1,650 they had bought in the previous weeks.

A resident, Mrs Bolarinwa, said despite the slight reduction in the cost of gas, she had to still use charcoal as an alternative, describing it as cheaper.

Another resident who simply identified herself as Madam Salamotu said she preferred using charcoal, describing it as “stress free”.

She said she usually purchases a bag of charcoal for N11,000 at Maraba and it lasts for over a month compared to 3kg worth of gas which would hardly last two weeks.

A restaurant operator, Mariam, said the reduction in the price of gas has brought some relief to her business but asked the government to ensure sustainability in the price of cooking gas.

A check by our reporter at H-Set Cooking Gas in Idu and AA Rano Gas Plants showed that the price of cooking gas has dropped compared to what it sold for about two weeks ago.

Dealers attributed the reduction to changes in market supply, while consumers said the decline had slightly eased pressure on household budgets.

At H-Set Cooking Gas in Idu, a representative of the outlet said the current price is N1,600 per kilogram, compared to N2,000 per kilogram about two weeks ago.

The official noted that prices fluctuate depending on supply from marketers but expressed hope that the downward trend would continue.

Similarly, officials at AA Rano Gas Plant said the outlet had adjusted its pump price downward in line with prevailing market conditions. They explained that although customers had welcomed the reduction, many were still purchasing smaller quantities because of the high cost of living.

Customers interviewed at the outlets described the price reduction as encouraging but maintained that cooking gas remains expensive for many households.

Mrs Ivon Okuta, a public servant, said the previous increase in cooking gas prices had affected households across the country.

“It would be an understatement to say the hike didn’t affect me personally. It affected almost everyone because many people, especially those living in urban areas, depend on gas for cooking. When I was told the price had risen to N2,000 per kilogram, I initially thought I was being scammed,” she said.

According to her, salaries had remained the same despite the rising cost of essential commodities, making it difficult for many families to cope with the increasing cost of living.

She added that she bought a 12.5kg cylinder for about N15,000 two months ago, paid N24,000 for the same quantity last month, and spent N18,200 on her latest refill.

“I am still not comfortable with the current price because we really don’t have alternatives. When gas becomes expensive, the prices of kerosene, charcoal and even firewood also go up.

“I urge the government to come down to the grassroots, listen to the cries of ordinary Nigerians and take practical steps to reduce the hardship facing citizens. Our representatives should engage more with the people so they can better understand what families are going through,” she said.

Muhammed Suleiman, a civil servant, said the recent reduction had provided some relief but was still insufficient considering the country’s current economic realities.

He said many families had been forced to reduce their gas consumption because refilling cylinders had become too expensive.

Another resident, Victor Abiodun, said many consumers resorted to rationing their gas usage or seeking alternative cooking methods when prices reached their peak.

He urged the government to sustain policies that would make cooking gas more affordable and accessible to ordinary Nigerians.

Mr Miracle, who visited one of the outlets to refill his cylinder, described the price reduction as encouraging but said further cuts were needed to ease the financial burden on low-income earners.

Another customer, Mr Ikechukwu Anozie, an industrialist, said many residents had coped with previous high prices by buying smaller quantities of gas and reducing the frequency of cooking at home.

He appealed to the government to introduce measures that would stabilise the LPG market and protect consumers from sharp price increases.

Similarly, Chef Ufoski said the high cost of cooking gas had affected both households and small businesses that depend on LPG for their daily activities.

A resident of Bwari, Mr Chinedu Eze Titus, said the current price of a kilogram of gas is ₦1,700 in his area as against the previous N2,000.

Eze said he was not happy with the current price of gas, adding that the government should bring the price down to less than N1, 000 per kg.

“It’s very difficult for me. The money that I would have used to buy food stuff now goes to buying gas,” he said.

Another resident of Bwari, Fidelis Obi, said the price of gas has dropped from N1, 700 to N1,400, describing the development as a huge relief.

He urged the government to further bring down the price in order to accommodate the low income earners.

Joseph Yakubu, a resident, said though consumers were still struggling with high prices, he is happy with the reduction, while hoping and praying for more reduction,” he said.

He urged the government to ensure marketers complied with prevailing prices.

Another resident, Ben, is optimistic that there will be further reduction enough to make a meaningful difference to household expenses.

“It is not enough. People are still struggling because salaries cannot meet household expenses,” he said. He added that the government should do more to reduce the cost of living.

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