Cooking gas prices in Abuja have skyrocketed in recent months. Residents and business owners are now turning to charcoal and firewood as cheaper alternatives.
The News Agency of Nigeria tracked the dramatic price jump. Liquefied petroleum gas has climbed from around N1,200 per kilogram to N2,000 in just a few months.
Industry watchers blame supply shortages for the crisis. They point to depot costs, forex challenges, and transportation expenses as key drivers.
Mrs Mayo Akinpelu runs a food business in Gwarimpa. She abandoned her gas cylinder after prices made cooking too expensive.
"Refilling became impossible because costs kept climbing," Akinpelu told reporters. "A 12.5kg cylinder now costs N25,000, which kills my profits."
She switched to firewood and charcoal instead. Though less convenient, she said, these fuels keep her operating and competitive.
Customers occasionally complain about the slower cooking method. But Akinpelu has no choice in the current market.
Victory Samson vends food in Dutse, Bwari Area Council. Rising gas costs have squeezed her profit margins considerably.
"It's affecting everything," she told our reporters. "Government needs to bring prices back down immediately."
Grace Oluwatimilehin owns a business in Kubwa. She was startled by a sudden price jump last week.
Her cylinder cost N1,600 per kilogram days earlier. Within days, vendors were demanding N2,000 per kilogram instead.
She's now cooking with electric hot plates and charcoal. Gas has become simply unaffordable for her kitchen, she explained.
Abike Ojo is a single mother stretched thin by expenses. Her household budget can't absorb another hit.
Her last purchase was N1,500 per kilogram. The next one doubled that price to N2,000.
"If this keeps going, I'll abandon gas completely," Ojo warned. She's urging the government to act before household costs spiral further.
Bamishile Bolanle works as a gas vendor in Kubwa. He confirmed that prices now sit at N2,000 per kilogram.
Customers are buying far less because they can't afford more. Bolanle suspects product scarcity is the root cause.
Alfred Orshio sells gas in Dei Dei market. His shop has seen a sharp drop in daily sales.
Earlier this year, his price was N1,200 per kilogram. It climbed to N1,400, then N1,800, then N2,000.
"Filling a 12kg cylinder costs about N25,000 now," Orshio noted. He can't blame customers for cutting back purchases.
Charcoal sellers are experiencing the opposite trend. Amina Yakubu distributes charcoal in Kubwa and business is booming.
Demand has surged as people abandon their gas stoves. She attributes the spike directly to gas price shocks.
Yakubu buys charcoal bags wholesale for N6,500. She sells them to customers for N8,000 per bag.
