Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed cautious optimism following the recent reduction in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, describing the development as a welcome relief amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living. Many households say the price adjustment has eased some financial strain, while urging the Federal Government to take steps to ensure the reduction is sustained and further improved.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, residents said the lower prices could help families better manage household expenses if stability is maintained. According to market checks, cooking gas is currently selling for between ₦1,080 and ₦1,400 per kilogramme across different retail outlets in the FCT, with NIPCO offering the lowest rate at ₦1,080 per kg.
A civil servant, Victoria Ahaneku, described the price reduction as a positive economic signal, noting that it could have ripple effects beyond household kitchens. She explained that when families spend less on essential energy needs, they are left with more disposable income to cover other necessities or support local businesses. However, she stressed that the current price level is still beyond the reach of many Nigerians.
Ahaneku added that the continued high cost of cooking gas forces some households to rely on alternatives such as charcoal and firewood, which are not only expensive but also harmful to health and the environment. She called on the government to pursue further reductions to make clean cooking energy accessible to more citizens.
A businesswoman, Mary Olobeyo, also welcomed the price drop but emphasized that temporary relief would not be enough. According to her, long-term affordability can only be achieved through structural reforms in the LPG value chain. She identified transportation, storage, and retail logistics as major factors driving up costs.
Olobeyo urged governments at all levels to invest in modern infrastructure and adopt policies that reduce operational expenses. She suggested alternatives such as pipelines and rail transport to cut dependence on road tanker trucks, which are costly and vulnerable to disruptions.
For Aisha Abubukar, a teacher, the major concern lies in the instability of cooking gas prices. While she acknowledged the current reduction, she lamented frequent fluctuations that make household budgeting difficult. She noted that a consistent and sustained decline in prices would encourage wider domestic use of LPG and increase its adoption nationwide.
A businessman, Mr. Adebayo Olurunfemi, described the reduction as commendable but insufficient when viewed against Nigeria’s broader economic challenges. While praising the government for intervening to resolve issues at the Dangote Refinery and other gas depots, he stressed that Nigerians are still grappling with multiple financial pressures.
“The cost of living remains very high,” he said, pointing to rising rent, school fees, fuel prices, bank charges, and various taxes. According to him, while the cooking gas price drop is a step in the right direction, the government must do more to ease the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.
Another resident, Charity Samuel, a public servant, said affordable cooking gas would significantly benefit families with low purchasing power. She explained that many households depend on LPG because it is cleaner and safer than traditional cooking fuels. Samuel urged the government to ensure steady supply and affordability to encourage wider use and reduce reliance on environmentally harmful alternatives.
It will be recalled that cooking gas prices had surged to as high as ₦1,800 per kilogramme in September 2025, following an industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria. At the time, the Federal Government assured Nigerians that prices would stabilize once the underlying issues were resolved.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, had attributed the spike to disruptions caused by the strike at the Dangote Refinery and maintenance work at the Nigeria LNG Train Four facility. He also revealed that the government instructed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to intensify monitoring of LPG depots nationwide to curb hoarding and prevent artificial scarcity.
As prices begin to fall, residents say the next critical step is ensuring consistency, affordability, and policy reforms that will make clean cooking energy accessible to all Nigerians.
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