Cooking Gas Price In Nigeria: From ₦200 in 2002 To Today’s Price — Full Breakdown

The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has recorded a dramatic increase in Nigeria over the past two decades, rising from about ₦100 per kilogramme in the early 2000s to between ₦1,250 and ₦1,650 per kilogramme in parts of the country by August and September 2026.

According to available historical records, the increase has been driven by several factors, including changes in domestic LPG production, import costs, foreign exchange fluctuations, transportation expenses, inflation, depot prices and periodic supply shortages.

Although reliable nationwide retail data for the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic are limited, historical market records indicate that one kilogramme of cooking gas could be purchased for roughly ₦100 under normal conditions in the early 2000s.

A World Bank study on Nigeria’s LPG sector found that cooking gas in Lagos was generally sold for between ₦1,200 and ₦1,300 for a 12.5kg cylinder at the time. When converted to a per-kilogramme basis, this amounted to approximately ₦96 to ₦104.

The study also documented significant price variations during periods of scarcity, with prices reportedly falling as low as ₦950 for 12.5kg, equivalent to about ₦76 per kilogramme, while severe shortages could push the same quantity to between ₦1,800 and ₦2,000, or roughly ₦144 to ₦160 per kilogramme.

By 2004 and 2005, the price of LPG had become more volatile. A 12.5kg refill was reportedly selling for around ₦1,700 during part of the period, translating to approximately ₦136 per kilogramme. However, severe shortages pushed prices as high as ₦5,500 for 12.5kg in some instances, equivalent to about ₦440 per kilogramme.

In 2006, another period of scarcity saw the price of a 12.5kg refill rise to approximately ₦2,600, translating to about ₦208 per kilogramme.

The following year, consumers reportedly paid between ₦2,200 and ₦3,000 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder, equivalent to roughly ₦176 to ₦240 per kilogramme. The period was also notable for increased efforts to expand domestic LPG supply, including the Nigeria LNG domestic gas supply programme.

Between 2008 and 2010, cooking gas generally sold for between ₦2,000 and ₦3,000 for a 12.5kg cylinder under normal market conditions. This represented an approximate per-kilogramme price of ₦160 to ₦240.

Prices increased again around late 2010 and early 2011 as another supply shortage affected the market. A 12.5kg refill reportedly sold for between ₦3,000 and ₦3,500, translating to approximately ₦240 to ₦280 per kilogramme.

The same range largely persisted in 2012, when consumers in parts of Lagos and Ogun reportedly paid between ₦3,000 and ₦3,500 for 12.5kg. However, scarcity in some locations, including Umuahia, caused prices to rise significantly during the December period.

In 2013, normal retail prices reportedly moderated to between ₦2,500 and ₦3,000 for 12.5kg, equivalent to approximately ₦200 to ₦240 per kilogramme. Supply disruptions, however, again caused prices to climb to between ₦4,000 and ₦5,000 in some locations.

By 2014, a 12.5kg refill was reportedly selling for around ₦2,800 to ₦3,500 in parts of the market, translating to approximately ₦224 to ₦280 per kilogramme. Increased domestic supply was credited with helping to ease some of the severe shortages previously experienced.

In 2015, the price remained considerably lower than current levels, with a 12.5kg refill generally costing around ₦3,300 to ₦3,500. That represented approximately ₦264 to ₦280 per kilogramme.

More consistent data from the National Bureau of Statistics subsequently provided a clearer picture of the long-term price movement.

By December 2016, the average price of a 12.5kg cylinder stood at ₦4,071.63, equivalent to approximately ₦325.73 per kilogramme.

The average increased to ₦4,452.83 for 12.5kg in December 2017, translating to about ₦356.23 per kilogramme.

In 2018, the price eased slightly, with the December average for 12.5kg recorded at ₦4,332.06, equivalent to approximately ₦346.56 per kilogramme.

The downward movement continued into 2019, when the December average stood at ₦4,176.20 for 12.5kg, translating to about ₦334.10 per kilogramme.

Cooking gas prices remained relatively stable in 2020 despite the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The average price of a 12.5kg refill in December was ₦4,154.28, equivalent to approximately ₦332.34 per kilogramme.

The situation changed sharply in 2021. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the average price of a 12.5kg cylinder rose to ₦7,332.04 in December, representing a 76.49 per cent increase from the ₦4,154.28 recorded in December 2020.

On a per-kilogramme basis, the price consequently increased from approximately ₦332 to ₦586.56.

The upward trend continued in 2022, when the average cost of a 12.5kg refill reached ₦10,248.97 by December. This translated to approximately ₦819.92 per kilogramme.

In 2023, the average price climbed further to ₦11,510.16 for 12.5kg in December, representing a 12.31 per cent year-on-year increase and an equivalent price of about ₦920.81 per kilogramme.

The pressure on households intensified in 2024 as the average price of a 12.5kg refill rose to ₦17,274.16 in December, compared with ₦11,510.16 a year earlier.

This put the equivalent average price at approximately ₦1,381.93 per kilogramme, representing an increase of more than 50 per cent year-on-year.

Prices continued to rise during the first half of 2025. The average cost of 12.5kg reached ₦21,010.56 in June, up from ₦20,709.11 in May. On a per-kilogramme basis, the June figure was approximately ₦1,680.84.

However, the market recorded some relief during the second half of the year. By December 2025, the average price of a 12.5kg refill had dropped to ₦13,438.90, equivalent to approximately ₦1,075.11 per kilogramme.

The new year initially brought a similar level of pricing, with the average 12.5kg refill standing at about ₦13,551 in January 2026, or roughly ₦1,084 per kilogramme.

The relief was short-lived, however, as prices climbed sharply again in the following months.

By March 2026, the average national price for a 12.5kg cylinder had risen to ₦19,652.83, translating to approximately ₦1,572.23 per kilogramme. The average price of a 5kg cylinder was also recorded at ₦7,655.73 during the month.

The increase continued into April, when the average price of 12.5kg climbed to ₦22,382.20, representing a 13.89 per cent increase from March. This translated to approximately ₦1,790.58 per kilogramme.

The April figure was more than 17 times the roughly ₦100 per kilogramme price recorded in parts of Lagos during the early 2000s, although the comparison is based on nominal naira values and does not account for inflation.

During periods of supply shortages in 2026, retail prices in some locations moved closer to or above ₦2,000 per kilogramme.

Prices have since moderated from the peak recorded earlier in the year. Data attributed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority showed that in July 2026, average retail LPG prices across six major cities ranged from about ₦1,325 per kilogramme in Lagos to ₦1,575 per kilogramme in Sokoto.

Meanwhile, market checks in August and September indicated that consumers in some parts of Nigeria were paying between ₦1,250 and ₦1,650 per kilogramme, depending on location and the point of purchase.

In Lagos and Ogun, separate market checks in August placed retail prices at around ₦1,400 to ₦1,500 per kilogramme at some outlets.

The figures illustrate the scale of the increase in the cost of cooking gas over more than two decades, with the product moving from a relatively affordable household fuel in the early 2000s to a significantly more expensive commodity for millions of Nigerian families in 2026.