The price of cooking gas has increased in parts of Nigeria, as consumers in Abuja now paying as much as N1,800 per kilogramme, while residents of Lagos and Ogun states are paying up toN1,650 per kilogramme.
The latest increase has affected several gas retail outlets, adding to the cost of cooking for households already dealing with rising living expenses.
Checks at some gas stations on Thursday showed that the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, had gone up across the affected locations.
In Lagos, Techno Oil outlets in Festac increased their selling price from N1,450 to N1,650 per kilogramme.
Similarly, NipCo retail stations at First Gate and the Trade Fair Complex raised their prices from N1,280 to N1,480 per kilogramme.
The situation was also recorded in Ogun State, where Ecogas LPG refilling plant in Sagamu increased its price from N1,500 to N1,600 per kilogramme.
At Oyejo gas station in Shiwun, customers are now paying N1,650 per kilogramme, compared to the previous rate of N1,450.
In Abuja, the cost of cooking gas has climbed from N1,700 to N1,800 per kilogramme at some retail outlets. However, NipCo stations in the city were selling the product for N1,650 per kilogramme.
The latest development comes after the price of cooking gas at depots increased by 31.8 per cent within one month.
Depot prices reportedly moved from N1,100 per kilogramme to N1,450, putting more pressure on retailers and contributing to the higher prices paid by consumers.
A gas expert, Lawal Taofeek, linked the increase to seasonal changes in demand across the international market.
According to him, gas consumption usually rises during the cold season in Europe as countries require more fuel to heat homes and buildings.
He explained that the increase in demand from European countries affects global gas prices and eventually pushes up the cost of cooking gas in other markets, including Nigeria.
Taofeek said the situation could continue until late December or early January, when the seasonal demand is expected to reduce.
He, however, expressed hope that cooking gas prices would begin to fall once the peak heating period in Europe comes to an end.
