By Sarah NEGEDU
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory are lamenting the rising cost of cooking gas, as many say the situation has forced them to make uncomfortable adjustments to their household budget.
In recent weeks, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, has surged from about N1,000 per kilogram to as high as N2,000/kg in some parts of Abuja, following the industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria during its dispute with the Dangote Refinery.
The situation is further compounded by limited supply from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas. NLNG, facility, which has been undergoing maintenance, creating a ripple effect on availability and pricing.
Some of the Residents who spoke to The Abuja Inquirer expressed their frustration and demand urgent government intervention.
For instance, a mother of three and food vendor in Garki, Aisha Ibrahim, said she now spends nearly double her usual refill cost and this is telling on her gain.
“I bought 12.5kg for N19,000 last week. Before, it was N11,500. I can’t keep selling food at the same price because everything has gone up — rice, oil, and now gas,” she said. “If the government doesn’t act fast, small businesses like mine will pack up.”
For Chijioke Eze, a commercial tricycle rider who lives in Karu, the current situation has forced him to adjust his cooking habits.
“My wife now uses charcoal to make food in the evening. We only use gas when there is rain or when we need to cook fast,” he said. “The 5kg cylinder I used to fill with N5,600 now costs N8,000. It’s becoming impossible.”
Also, civil servant, Mrs. Favour Bamidele, described the price surge as “unbearable” and urged the authorities to enforce stronger price control measures.
“I just collected my salary, and almost everything went into bills. The government should find a way to regulate these marketers. They keep blaming strikes, but after the strike ends, prices never come down,” she lamented.
Similarly, a resident of Lugbe, Malam Abdullahi Musa, said he recently switched to kerosene after being unable to afford a full cylinder.
“I bought only 3kg last week for N4,500. That one finished in five days. Now I’m back to using kerosene stove. It’s slower, but what can we do?” he said.
Some residents however disclosed that the prices were beginning to stabilize at major outlets. Joy Ezeani, a public relations consultant, said she bought gas at a slightly lower price after waiting in a long queue.
“I went to NIPCO station along Airport Road. They sold for N1,120 per kg. It took hours to fill, but it was better than buying from the roadside where it’s N2,000 per kg,” she said. “If the government can sustain supply and stop hoarding, prices will normalize soon.”
Responding to the situation, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, attributed the surge to the temporary disruption caused by the PENGASSAN strike at the Dangote Refinery and ongoing maintenance at the NLNG Train Four, which affected local supply.
He assured that the situation was being addressed, noting that operations had resumed at key facilities.
“Similarly, the Bonny River Terminal operated by Seplat Energy has commenced loading, while the Nigeria LNG is gradually restoring normal operations as maintenance nears completion,” Ekpo said.
He appealed for calm, urging marketers and distributors to avoid hoarding, while assuring Nigerians that “the situation is temporary and supply will normalize in the coming days.”
