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Cooking Gas Shortage Impacts Lagos, Kano, Katsina, and other areas.
Cooking gas shortage impacts Lagos, Kano, Katsina, and other areas.
The shortage of liquefied petroleum gas, commonly referred to as cooking gas, has affected Lagos and several other states in the country.
The other affected states, according to findings by our correspondents, are: Katsina, Sokoto, Delta, Kaduna, and Kano.
The rise in price of the commodity has been noticed since late last month, causing a continuous rise in prices, The Punch has learned.
The Punch had earlier reported how gas terminal owners increased prices by 66 percent in October alone. The price of 20 metric tons of cooking gas rose from N10 million at the beginning of last month to N16 million as of late last month, despite NLNG currently supplying 20 MT of cooking gas to them at N9 million.
A market survey carried out by The Punch over the weekend revealed that 12.5kg of cooking gas now sells for between N13,500 and N14,000 at the black market.
Some of the traders informed The Punch that gas plant owners now sell to them at between N1100-N1200 per kg as they cannot access enough quantity.
As of June, the price of 12.5kg was around N8,700. In September, the price rose to N10,200, and as of Saturday, it had again risen to between N13,500 and N14,000.
In a chat with the President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Oladapo Olatunbosun, on Sunday, The Punch learned that there is currently not enough cooking gas in Lagos State.
“In my own gas plant, I sell at N950 per 1kg. So, by all means, the masses should try not to patronize those that don’t have gas plants because they will also add to their profit. Those people are also part of the problem we are facing in the country.
Our correspondent in Katsina also reported the scarcity of cooking gas in the state.
According to the findings, the scarcity was first observed about two weeks ago as several small retailers complained of its non-availability. An investigation has also shown that a kilogram of cooking gas goes for nothing less than N1,400 in the state. No official reason had been given for the scarcity.
A scarcity of cooking gas has also been noticed in Sokoto State metropolis in the last few days, leading to prices being increased indiscriminately.
Our correspondent in Kaduna reported that residents were spotted carrying their cylinders in search of the commodity as of Sunday. Findings showed that a retail price of 5 kilograms went for N5,500.
In the neighboring Kano state, our correspondent disclosed that the resurfacing of the scarcity of cooking was noticed as residents were engaging in panic buying of the commodity.
An investigation by The Punch showed that following the resurfacing of the scarcity, marketers have jerked up the prices, as a kilogram of cooking gas is now being sold at N850 in some filling stations while others sell it between N900 and N950 per kilogram.
However, a long queue of buyers is now a common feature at most filling stations dispensing the commodity.
At other outlets (black market), the price is between N1,110 per kilo and N1200 per kilo.
In Delta State, investigations by our correspondent in Warri and Effurun metropolitan cities show that the price of cooking gas has shot up to N1,100 per kg as of Sunday, November 5, 2023.
The commodity was selling at N800 per kg in October in the twin cities.
When questioned on the rationale for the price increase, a popular gas dealer in Warri, identified as Mr. Igho, could not ascertain the cause.
When contacted, an official in the Public Communications Department of the Nigeria Gas Company, Warri, who sought anonymity because he was not authorized to speak with the press, declined to comment on the issue.
“It is not in my position to engage the press the way the new NNPCL is structured”, he simply told our correspondent.
Meanwhile, reports from Abuja and Kwara showed that consumers are not experiencing scarcity, though prices remain high.
In Abuja, a resident of Karu in the AMAC Area Council of Abuja, Roy, told our correspondent that while there was no scarcity of cooking gas in his vicinity, his experience was a mix of liquefied gas and pure gas, which no longer lasted as long as it used to.
“So for me, the problem I’m having is that it liquefies. So instead of having normal gas, you end up with like seventy percent gas and thirty percent liquid that’s inside the cylinder, for whatever you buy.
So initially, we were not even aware until we noticed that when we shake the cylinder, it’s always leaving the liquefied part under. So it ends within like two or three weeks before the normal period, when it should last”, he said.
Another resident, Sandra, told our correspondent that there was no scarcity of cooking gas but noted that it had become expensive.
“I bought gas today at Abacha Road in Mararaba. 12.5kg for N13,500. I wouldn’t say there is scarcity, just that it has become expensive”, she said.