Cooking gas goes for N1,300 per kg, households resort to harmful energy options
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Households and commercial eateries are feeling the heat in Ebonyi as the price of
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has shot up to between N1,300 per kilogram, forcing consumers to adopt environmentally harmful alternative sources of energy.
Residents of Abakaliki expressed concern over the continuous rise in the price of cooking gas, currently selling for between N1,250 and N1.300 in the state capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports many homes have shifted to alternative sources of energy, such as sawdust, firewood, and charcoal.
The story is similar in other parts of the country.
Restaurant and other eating joint operators in Abakaliki lamented their businesses have taken a dive since cooking gas price increased, especially between January and February.
Vivian Chukwu, a charcoal seller at Kpirikpiri Market, confirmed the price of a sack of charcoal has risen from N6,000 in December 2023 to N7,500 now, caused by the increase in demand.
“We are witnessing continued patronage by the day. We have measurements ranging from N300, N400, N500 to N1,000 and we also sell in quantity,” she said.
“Yes, our prices have changed; it was relatively cheap in December, but now the cost is no more the same due to high patronage caused by the high cost of cooking gas.
“Well, I do not think I can venture into another business. This is a very profitable business but people don’t know about it.”
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Abuja urged to intervene
Chukwu decried the trend, moaning it is biting on every home.
“I urge the government to intervene. The suffering is becoming too much on everyone and salary still the same.
“It is very unfair increasing cooking gas [price] when we are still battling to cope with the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.”
Chinwe Okoro, a caterer, disclosed she now uses charcoal for cooking because it is difficult keeping up with the steady increase in the price of cooking gas.
“Charcoal is cheaper and it has helped me in my business. I am no more spending my money on gas,” she stressed.
She urged Abuja to come up with policy and plans to ensure the price of cooking gas is affordable to the common man.
Another resident of Abakaliki, Ahmed Aliyu, said his family has moved to charcoal, which he can easily afford with a small amount of money.
“I keep saying it, this is not the time to increase cooking gas [price], as citizens are yet to recover from the hardship occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy,” Aliyu lamented.
“It is sad that the cost of cooking gas keeps increasing almost on a daily basis and everyone is quiet, and cost of living is becoming worrisome every day.”
A petrol station attendant who spoke on grounds of anonymity said he could not ascertain the actual cause for the price increase, which he said also affects business at the station now suffering from low patronage.
“Many of our customers now resort to using firewood and charcoal for cooking. This is serious.
“We have been witnessing changes in price every day. Someday, it will even be twice depending on the market cost,” he said.
