The price of cooking gas in Nigeria has risen sharply as tensions in the Middle East disrupt global energy supply.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, now sells for about ₦1,400 per kilogram in many parts of the country.
This represents about a 40 percent increase from around ₦1,000 per kilogram last week, according to market checks at gas plants in Lagos and other cities.
Industry experts say the price increase is linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which has disrupted oil and gas supply in the international market.
The crisis has affected shipping routes and energy production in the Middle East, pushing global fuel prices higher.
In Nigeria, the ex-depot price of LPG has also increased significantly. Reports show that the price rose to about ₦18 million per 20 metric tonnes, up from ₦15.95 million last week.
The National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Inyang Edu, confirmed the rise in prices.
“We are faced with limited supply in the international market due to the Iraq-Israel-American crisis, which has now triggered the price increase,” Edu said.
He added that even though Nigeria produces some cooking gas locally, the country still depends partly on imports. As a result, global price changes quickly affect the local market.
“Even though we produce locally, including supplies from the Dangote Refinery, once prices rise in the international market, it affects domestic prices in naira,” he said.
The increase is expected to put more pressure on households and businesses already struggling with rising living costs.
Energy analysts warn that if the Middle East crisis continues, the price of cooking gas and other fuels in Nigeria could rise even further in the coming weeks.
