LPG price surge pushes cooking gas near N2,000/kg in Nigeria as marketers warn of scarcity ahead of 2026 Eid-el-Kabir
The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas has continued its sharp upward climb across Nigeria, with the LPG price surge now pushing cooking gas close to N2,000 per kilogramme in several locations as Muslims prepare for the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Also read: Marketers warn of scarcity as cooking gas price surges to N1,500/kg
The Federal Government had earlier declared Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28, 2026, as public holidays for the Sallah festivities, but households are now contending with rising energy costs that have intensified economic pressure nationwide.
A market survey showed that cooking gas, which recently sold below N1,000 per kilogramme, has risen to between N1,500 and N1,800 in many parts of the country, with further increases recorded in some areas.
Consumers in South-West Nigeria reported that the LPG price surge has pushed rates to about N2,000 per kilogramme in Ogun border communities, while Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta now record prices between N1,600 and N1,700.
In northern states, the commodity is reportedly selling between N1,800 and N2,000 per kilogramme, deepening concerns over affordability for households and small businesses.
A consumer identified as Borokinni described the situation as harsh, saying ordinary Nigerians were bearing the brunt of unstable energy pricing and inadequate policy intervention.
The latest LPG price surge marks the first major increase in 2026 and the second in seven months, following disruptions traced back to October 2025 industrial tensions involving major stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers has warned that erratic supply and rising costs could trigger scarcity and worsen hardship for millions of Nigerians.
In a statement signed by its National President, Edu Inyang, and Executive Secretary, Mr Bassey Essien, the association described the situation as “sad and rather very pathetic”.
“The citizens of Nigeria have woken up to buy cooking gas, which should be a social item, at a prohibitive cost of over N1,500 per kg,” the statement said.
The association also warned that marketers were purchasing 20 metric tonnes of LPG at between N25.2 million and N26.2 million depending on location, a development it said was unsustainable.
Industry stakeholders expressed fears that continued price escalation could force households to return to firewood and charcoal, undermining Nigeria’s clean energy transition and worsening environmental degradation.
The LPG price surge is also placing pressure on small businesses, food vendors and low-income families who depend heavily on cooking gas for daily operations and survival.
Analysts warned that if the situation persists, it could trigger food inflation, business closures, job losses and reduced investor confidence in the downstream energy sector.
Some residents also lamented the increasing scarcity of cooking gas in neighbourhood retail outlets, urging the government to intervene urgently to stabilise supply ahead of the festive period.
Also read: Panic as another gas leak rocks Ogun schools, over 100 students, teachers hospitalised
As the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations approach, concerns continue to mount that the LPG price surge could deepen economic hardship for millions of Nigerian households already grappling with rising living costs.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
