Queues resurface across Lagos as cooking gas price hits N2,300/kg
By Olakunle Oke
Long queues have resurfaced at cooking gas outlets across Lagos as the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has surged to between ₦1,700 and ₦2,300 per kilogramme.
The sharp rise has triggered widespread outrage among residents already grappling with soaring food and fuel costs. Many Lagosians took to social media to express frustration over the worsening cost of living, describing the development as unbearable.
NewsDirect observed that several gas stations in areas such as Ikeja, Okokomaiko, and Ajangbadi in Ojo witnessed heavy queues, with consumers lamenting that the product was fast becoming unaffordable.
Lagos resident Peter Joseph, reacting to the situation, said, “Saw queue at the cooking gas station this morning?!?! These people are bringing queues that have never been queued before.”
Others shared similar experiences, with some confirming that they paid as much as ₦2,300 per kilogramme. A 12.5kg cylinder, which sold for about ₦10,000 early in the year, now costs ₦24,000 or more in parts of Lagos, a price point lamented by resident Mrs. Aderonke Adenusi, who stated: “Bought this morning for ₦24k — 12.5kg this early morning.”
Reacting to the situation, Ojulari, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, told State House correspondents that the hike and scarcity were temporary.
He attributed the crisis to recent disruptions caused by an industrial dispute between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which reportedly affected oil production, product distribution, and electricity supply.
“The slight increase in cooking gas prices is temporary. We expect normal prices to return soon, all things being equal,” Ojulari assured.
Despite assurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), frustration continues to mount online and across communities as Nigerians brace for yet another wave of economic strain.