As queues snake through Lagos streets under a relentless sun, Nigerian families scramble for scraps of cooking gas, their daily meals hanging in the balance. This cooking gas shortage Nigeria has morphed into a full-blown crisis, with LPG price Nigeria surging to N25,000 for a 12.5kg cylinder—up 43% in a week—fueled by PENGASSAN strike disruptions and Dangote refinery gas supply halts.
The chaos erupted following a three-day industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which paralyzed distribution networks across major cities. Dealers, caught off-guard, watched stocks dwindle as loading operations ground to a halt, leaving gas plants shuttered and consumers trekking miles for refills. In Lagos and Ogun states, vendors now charge N1,500 to N2,000 per kilogram, turning a household staple into a luxury. Reports from Abuja and Port Harcourt echo the pain, with panic buying amplifying the scarcity.
Background paints a picture of Nigeria’s fragile energy underbelly. Once reliant on Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) for butane, the nation pivoted with Dangote Refinery’s entry as the top local producer, churning out 2,000 metric tons daily. Yet demand outstrips supply by a wide margin, exacerbated by global oil volatility and local logistics snags. NLNG, since 2022, funnels 100% of its butane output domestically via coastal terminals in Lagos, Rivers, and Delta states, even chartering vessels for steady flow. But the PENGASSAN standoff exposed cracks: one disruption, and the chain snaps.
Impacts ripple through everyday life. Mothers ration portions to stretch cylinders, while low-income homes eye a grim return to firewood or kerosene—fuels that choke lungs and forests alike. “We’ve been boiling water on charcoal for days; it’s humiliating,” laments Aisha Bello, a Lagos trader, as shared in viral X clips of endless lines. Energy poverty, already claiming 80 million Nigerians without clean cooking access, deepens here, hiking health risks from indoor smoke.
Experts sound alarms and glimmers of hope. Bassey Essien, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), pins the spike on strike-induced stockouts but predicts stabilization soon. “Demand exceeds supply in practice, but resolution of the conflict will ease this,” he told reporters. Aliko Dangote, refinery mogul, vows to ramp production and bypass middlemen if prices don’t budge: “If distributors won’t lower them, we’ll sell directly to consumers, easing the shift from firewood to LPG.” Industry watchers like those at PM News flag the Dangote-PENGASSAN tussle as a supply choke point, urging policy tweaks for resilience.
Public fury boils on X, where #CookingGasShortage trends with raw tales. “From N17k to N25k? This is sabotage!” vents @dailyindexng, echoing a post racking up shares. Nigeria Info FM amplifies the outcry, linking it to broader fuel woes like petrol at N865/liter. Nairaland forums buzz with memes of “gas hunts” turning epic quests, blending humor with hardship.
For U.S. readers, this hits through the Nigerian diaspora—over 400,000 strong, wiring $25 billion in remittances yearly that prop up families back home. Soaring costs erode those lifelines, squeezing budgets amid America’s own inflation battles. Economically, it spotlights global LNG ripples: Nigeria’s shortfall could nudge U.S. exports higher, benefiting exporters like Cheniere Energy while hiking prices for African allies. Politically, it underscores energy security lessons—echoing U.S. pushes for diversified supplies post-Ukraine. Lifestyle ties? American-Nigerians hosting jollof rice gatherings now fret over kin’s stove-side struggles, prompting advocacy via groups like the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce.
User intent here? Desperate searches for “cooking gas price Nigeria today” seek solace in updates and hacks—like bulk buys or solar alternatives—while diaspora hunts remittance impacts. We manage by dishing verified scoops, coping tips, and calls to action, turning panic into preparedness.
The strike’s suspension offers a breather, with NLNG’s dedicated logistics poised to refill pipelines. Yet Dangote’s direct-sales threat hints at market shake-ups, potentially capping prices long-term.
In summary, Nigeria’s cooking gas shortage and LPG price Nigeria frenzy from the PENGASSAN strike expose supply frailties, but ramped refinery output and policy pledges signal rebound. Looking ahead, stabilized access could curb energy poverty by 2026, fostering cleaner homes—though vigilant reforms are key to averting repeats in this volatile landscape.
By Sam Michael
Follow us and subscribe for push notifications to catch breaking updates first—your gateway to unmissable news!