Early Wednesday morning, Abuja housewives queued with empty cylinders, Lagos shop-owners stared at bare shelves, and kitchens across Ibadan lit up charcoal fires once again.
Cooking gas—once considered the clean, convenient option—now feels like a luxury. Why? Because prices have doubled in some areas, and supply has almost dried up.
At the heart of it all is a conflict between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association (PENGASSAN) — a disagreement that’s sending shockwaves all the way to Nigerian dining tables.
Every price tag, every out-of-stock notice, every cylinder waiting for refill—these are not just market fluctuations. They are signs of policy gaps, supply chain breakdowns, and economic decisions gone wrong. And they expose something deeper: when essential utilities falter, households cope — often at great cost.
What’s Causing The Scarcity & Price Surge
1. Dangote-PENGASSAN Rift
A dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN over contract terms and supply logistics has slowed down LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) discharges in Apapa and other depots. Without regular discharge, gas accumulates upstream, causing shortages downstream.
2. Supply Disruption & Maintenance
Parts of the infrastructure are undergoing maintenance, and the refinery capacity, while large, is not yet consistently supplying domestic needs due to operational and logistical constraints.
3. Foreign Exchange Pressure & Import Constraints
Global LPG prices are rising, and when local supply is insufficient, imports fill the gap. But every importer, distributor, or retailer must contend with FX scarcity, high shipping costs, and international logistic delays.
4. Inflation & Price Hikes
Prices, both wholesale and retail, have jumped steeply. A kilogram of cooking gas that was selling around ₦1,200 in many places shot up to ₦1,600, ₦1,800, and in some cases higher. For a 12.5-kg cylinder, costs now vary drastically depending on region.
The Fallout — How Nigerians Are Paying The Price
Household Strain: Many families are rationing cooking gas — using smaller burners, cooking fewer meals in a day, or switching back to wood, charcoal, or kerosene which are dirtier and more harmful.
Health & Environmental Impact: The shift back to firewood or charcoal increases indoor air pollution and respiratory problems, particularly for children and the elderly.
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Economic Shock: Small businesses, food vendors, restaurants feel acutely pressed. A spike in cooking cost quickly feeds into food price inflation and operational costs.
Regional Disparities: Cities close to supply or refinery zones (Lagos, Port Harcourt) still feel the pinch, but rural and remote communities suffer more — access is uneven, distances are larger, transport is costlier.
Regressive Impact: Poorer households (low income, informal economy) are hit hardest — fewer buffers, lower savings, less ability to absorb cost shocks.
When A Flame Becomes Fight
Cooking gas scarcity may seem mundane, but it touches something deep: the promise of progress, the dignity of everyday life. When Nigerians must spend days hunting for gas or choosing between health and cost, it signals a breakdown of fundamentals.
The crisis is not just about gas, but trust: trust that markets will deliver, that authorities will protect, and that daily life will not be at the mercy of disputes. Resolving this isn’t just technical — it’s political, moral, and urgent.
