Cooking gas retailers in Enugu State have raised concerns over declining patronage as soaring Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices force many households to abandon cooking gas and return to charcoal and other cheaper cooking alternatives.
Key Highlights
•Rising cooking gas prices trigger sharp decline in LPG sales in Enugu.
•Many households reportedly switching from gas to charcoal.
•Retailers say customers now buy smaller quantities due to economic hardship.
•Cooking gas prices now range between ₦1,750 and ₦2,000 per kilogramme.
•Sellers urge the Federal Government to intervene and reduce LPG costs.
•Residents lament growing cost of living and shrinking purchasing power.
Speaking on Wednesday, gas dealers attributed the drop in sales to the continuous increase in cooking gas prices across the country, warning that the trend is affecting both businesses and consumers.
They appealed to the Federal Government to address factors responsible for the rising cost of LPG, noting that many Nigerians are already struggling with worsening economic conditions.
A gas retailer, Emmanuel Okam, described the situation as alarming, saying customer demand has fallen significantly compared to previous months.
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According to him, customers who previously purchased five kilograms of gas now settle for two kilograms or less due to rising prices.
“Business is no longer what it used to be. Before now, I could refill up to five or six cylinders in a week, but demand has dropped sharply because of high gas prices,” he said.
Okam disclosed that he purchases gas from suppliers at approximately ₦1,600 per kilogramme and sells to consumers at about ₦1,850 per kilogramme.
Despite reducing his profit margin to attract customers, he said sales remain low.
“Before, I could sell about 60kg in a week, but now I hardly sell half of that quantity. It is affecting my income and my ability to meet family and other financial obligations,” he added.
He called on the government to work closely with stakeholders in the gas value chain to reduce costs and make cooking gas more affordable for households.
Another retailer, Ifeanyi Maduka, blamed the country’s economic challenges for the decline in patronage.
“Nigeria is really affecting all of us. Gas that used to sell for between ₦400 and ₦500 has risen to over ₦1,000, while fuel prices have also increased. Everything is becoming more expensive,” he said.
Maduka explained that while customers still visit gas outlets, the quantity purchased has dropped considerably because of reduced purchasing power.
He added that gas prices remain unstable, with suppliers frequently adjusting prices without notice.
According to him, some retailers now sell LPG for as much as ₦2,000 per kilogramme, while others sell between ₦1,800 and ₦1,900. His outlet currently sells at ₦1,750 per kilogramme.
A resident and civil servant, Mr Amos Adigwe, said the rising cost of cooking gas has forced her family to cut down on consumption.
“I used to buy seven kilogrammes of cooking gas, but when I recently went to refill, I was told that one kilogramme now costs ₦1,850. I have no choice but to reduce the quantity I buy,” he said.
Adigwe appealed to the government to urgently intervene and provide relief for low-income earners facing increasing living costs.
Industry stakeholders warn that if current price trends persist, more households may abandon cleaner cooking fuels and revert to charcoal and firewood, potentially reversing years of progress in promoting clean energy adoption across Nigeria.
