Millions of Nigerians preparing for the 2026 Eid-el-Kabir celebration are facing fresh economic pressure as the price of cooking gas continues climbing sharply across the country, with costs nearing N2,000 per kilogramme in several areas.
The increase comes just days after the Federal Government declared Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28, 2026, as public holidays for the Sallah celebration, a period traditionally associated with increased cooking and household spending.
In many states, families and small business owners say the rising cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas is making daily survival even more difficult, at a time when inflation and rising living expenses are already stretching household incomes.
Checks carried out in different parts of Nigeria show that cooking gas, which sold for below N1,000 per kilogramme only a few months ago, now sells for between N1,500 and N1,800 in many locations.
In parts of the South-West, residents reported that the product is gradually approaching N2,000 per kilogramme, particularly in border communities in Ogun State.
Buyers in Lagos, Abeokuta, and Ibadan say they now purchase cooking gas at between N1,600 and N1,700 per kilogramme, while reports from northern states suggest prices have climbed to N1,800 to N2,000 per kilogramme.
The latest increase marks the first major jump in cooking gas prices in 2026. It comes months after disruptions within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector linked to tensions involving Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria in late 2025.
Industry stakeholders are now warning that the situation could worsen if urgent intervention measures are not introduced.
The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers expressed concern over unstable supply and rising operational costs, warning that the trend may eventually lead to scarcity in some parts of the country.
According to the association, marketers currently spend between N25.2 million and N26.2 million to purchase 20 metric tonnes of cooking gas depending on location and logistics.
The group described the situation as painful not only for consumers struggling to refill cylinders, but also for sellers whose businesses are being affected by unstable pricing.
The impact is already being felt across households, roadside food vendors, restaurants, and low-income earners who rely heavily on cooking gas for everyday activities.
Many Nigerians fear that continued price increases could force families to abandon cooking gas entirely and return to firewood and charcoal, reversing years of progress toward cleaner energy use.
Marketers warned that such a shift could raise serious environmental and health concerns due to smoke pollution associated with traditional cooking methods.
Beyond household hardship, the association cautioned that the crisis could trigger broader economic consequences, including higher food prices, reduced investor confidence in the gas sector, and potential job losses among small-scale gas distributors and retailers.
The development comes at a particularly sensitive time as Nigerians prepare for Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, a season that typically involves increased cooking, gatherings, and food consumption.
For many households already battling inflation, transport costs, and rising electricity tariffs, the surge in cooking gas prices is another painful reminder of the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.
As pressure mounts, consumers and industry players are calling on the Federal Government to stabilize supply chains and introduce measures to prevent further increases before the situation worsens in the coming months.
