Households in several parts of Nigeria are beginning to see some relief in cooking gas costs as retail prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) decline on the back of improved supply and lower depot prices, The Punch has reports.
Industry data obtained from gas marketers indicated that LPG prices have started to moderate in major cities after weeks of steep increases, although the reductions vary across locations due to differences in transportation expenses, proximity to supply depots and retailer pricing.
Current market checks show that consumers in Lagos, Ibadan and Abeokuta are buying cooking gas at between N1,100 and N1,350 per kilogramme.
In Benin City, Port Harcourt and Warri, prices range from N1,150 to N1,400/kg.
Similarly, residents of Onitsha and Enugu are paying between N1,200 and N1,450/kg, while Abuja consumers are purchasing the product at prices ranging from N1,250 to N1,500/kg.
The National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Edu Inyang, said northern cities such as Kano and Kaduna currently record retail prices of between N1,300 and N1,550/kg.
According to him, Maiduguri and other parts of the North-East remain the most expensive markets, with prices ranging from N1,350 to N1,650/kg due to higher transportation and logistics costs.
Inyang noted that the prevailing national retail range is now approximately N1,100 to N1,650 per kilogramme, although some retailers still charge above that level in areas where distribution costs remain elevated.
The latest decline marks a turnaround from the sharp price increases witnessed in May when tight supply conditions and rising depot prices pushed cooking gas costs significantly higher across the country.
Explaining the factors behind the easing prices, Inyang attributed the development to stronger product availability from domestic producers and importers, softer depot prices, greater competition among marketers and the reduction of panic buying.
“Following reports of improved LPG supply and softer depot prices in late June 2026, retail cooking gas prices have started easing in some markets, although the reduction has not been uniform across Nigeria. Transport costs, distance from depots, and retailer margins still create noticeable differences between cities.
“Overall, the national retail range is roughly N1,100 to N1,650 per kilogramme, with some neighbourhood retailers charging slightly above this range where logistics costs remain high. The recent easing reflects lower depot prices as supply improved, increased product availability from domestic sources and imports, reduced panic buying and hoarding after government market interventions, and more competition among marketers in major cities,” Inyang said.
The reduction is expected to ease some of the financial pressure on households already burdened by rising living expenses, although stakeholders maintain that prices will continue to vary depending on local distribution costs.
Based on the current retail range, consumers refilling a 5kg cylinder now spend between N5,500 and N8,250, while a 6kg refill costs between N6,600 and N9,900. A standard 12.5kg cylinder refill is estimated to cost between N13,750 and N20,625, depending on location and retailer.
Despite the downward trend, marketers warned that prices have not fully stabilised nationwide, stressing that communities located far from major LPG depots may continue to face relatively higher costs because of transportation challenges.
Industry operators expressed optimism that sustained supply from local producers, combined with steady imports, would help drive prices lower in the coming weeks if supply chains remain uninterrupted.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Ayobami Olarinoye, said conditions in the market were gradually improving.
Olarinoye, whose members operate neighbourhood gas outlets, disclosed that retail prices at that level currently range from N1,600 to N1,800 per kilogramme.
“The inflow and supply are gradually getting back to normal. There is more availability.
“The price is also coming down gradually. As of today (Monday), we buy from between N1,300 and N1,500 per kg from the marketers (plant operators), depending on the locations, while we sell between N1,600 and N1,800 per kg to consumers. This also depends on the location and associated logistics.”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that marketers concluded plans to import LPG on a large scale after cooking gas prices surged by about 140 per cent in many parts of the country, raising concerns over affordability and availability.
The product, which sold for an average of N1,000 per kilogramme in January and February, climbed to as much as N2,400/kg between May and June.
The development prompted the regulator to begin issuing licences for LPG importation following concerns that domestic production could not adequately meet local demand.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, intervened in the market, cautioning operators against hoarding products and engaging in profiteering.
