Residents Groan as Cooking Gas Scarcity Hits Abuja Amid Price Hike

According to Daily Post reports on Sunday, 19 October, 2025, Abuja residents are facing growing frustration as a severe scarcity of cooking gas coincides with a sharp price increase, with costs reaching N2,000 per kilogram in parts of the city. The situation has left many struggling to refill their cylinders, forcing some to travel across the city in search of affordable supplies amid limited availability at retail outlets.

According to reports, cooking gas prices in Abuja have risen to between N1,200 and N2,000 per kg, with prices varying by location and vendor. This translates to a cost of between N15,000 and N25,000 for a 12.5-kilogram cylinder for residents in areas such as Kubwa, Lugbe, Dutse, Nyanya, and surrounding neighborhoods.

Bello Abdullahi, a resident of Kubwa, commented, “It is truly frustrating; on Saturday, I carried my cylinder around searching for gas. I ended up purchasing it at N2,000 per kg. I was informed that filling stations sell it at N1,200 per kg, but I couldn’t locate any in Kubwa

Rita Nwagwu, a resident of Dutse, also expressed her disappointment regarding the scarcity and pricing of cooking gas. “Despite the high price of N2,000 per kg in Dutse, most vendors are not selling. I had to use a bike on Friday looking for cooking gas but later bought it at Zone 6 at N2,000 per kg”.

Some stakeholders attribute the current cooking gas scarcity and price increases to last month’s strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association against Dangote Refinery, maintenance activities at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility, and the entry of the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery into the LPG market. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, had pledged to take action against marketers engaging in hoarding and inflating cooking gas prices, but his promises have yet to materialize, leaving Nigerians grappling with high prices and scarcity.

The Nigerian government has not yet provided a clear solution to the cooking gas scarcity and price hike. However, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) has promised to take action against marketers hoarding and inflating the price of cooking gas.

The cooking gas scarcity and price hike in Abuja have left many residents struggling to afford this essential commodity. With prices ranging from N15,000 to N25,000 for a 12.5-kilogram cylinder, many households are finding it difficult to cope. The government needs to take concrete steps to address the situation and ensure that cooking gas is available and affordable for all Nigerians.