Cooking gas prices remain stubbornly high across Nigeria, especially in the South-West, despite the suspension of the strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). The industrial action, launched to protest the dismissal of 800 workers by the Dangote Refinery, had intensified an already fragile supply situation, leading to prolonged scarcity and steep price hikes.
In major cities such as Lagos and Ibadan, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) currently ranges between ₦1,300 and ₦1,600 per kilogram. Many households continue to feel the strain, with residents reporting no visible reduction in prices since the strike was called off. A Lagos resident told reporters that she purchased gas for ₦1,600 per kilogram over the weekend, a significant jump from the pre-strike rate of under ₦1,000.
Industry experts and the National Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) have identified several factors responsible for the sustained high prices.
According to them, the primary cause was a series of supply disruptions that began with maintenance work at the Dangote facility. The subsequent PENGASSAN strike further delayed vessel movements from Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) terminals, creating a backlog that hit the South-West hardest.
An oil and gas analyst explained that the temporary halt in sales by Dangote created a major supply vacuum. The resulting scarcity triggered panic buying, giving retailers room to inflate prices. At the same time, importers reportedly stayed away from the market, claiming they could not compete with Dangote’s previously lower depot price, which was around ₦810 per kilogram compared to ₦910 to ₦920 at other depots.
Despite the challenges, marketers have assured consumers that normalcy is gradually returning. With Dangote resuming sales and terminals once again trucking out LPG, supply levels are expected to improve. Industry insiders predict that prices could begin to stabilize within the next one to two weeks, provided there are no further supply interruptions.
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