Cooking Gas Crisis: Nigerians Turn To Charcoal, Firewood, And Sawdust As Prices Hit ₦2,000/kg

According to reports from Ireporter Online, many Nigerian households are turning to traditional cooking alternatives such as charcoal, sawdust, and firewood as the price of cooking gas continues to rise sharply across the country.

The return to these fuel sources, once considered outdated, has become a necessity for families struggling to cope with the skyrocketing cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which now sells between ₦1,600 and ₦2,000 per kilogram. Several gas stations are reportedly struggling to maintain steady supply, worsening the scarcity situation.

This shift has consequently caused a ripple effect on the prices of other cooking fuels. A small bundle of firewood containing four pieces now costs between ₦800 and ₦1,000, depending on location, while a 50kg bag of charcoal is sold for ₦13,000 to ₦20,000. Briquette charcoal, considered more durable, now costs over ₦50,000 per 50kg bag. Meanwhile, kerosene — once regarded as an affordable option for low-income earners — has risen from ₦80 to about ₦2,000 per litre.

Faced with these challenges, sawdust is increasingly emerging as a cheaper and more accessible alternative for many families. Speaking on the situation, Mrs. Racheal Durotimi, a herb seller, lamented how the price hikes have affected her business and household. She explained that she now relies on sawdust, which she buys from sawmills and uses in a makeshift stove. “How much do I make that I will spend all my profit on charcoal, gas, or kerosene?” she asked, adding that the charcoal she recently bought for ₦2,000 finished within minutes.

Similarly, Mr. Innocent Ogbei, a bricklayer, narrated his frustration after discovering that kerosene now sells for as high as ₦2,500 per litre. He recounted how he resorted to using sawdust after being unable to find kerosene or afford cooking gas. “Since the removal of subsidy during Buhari’s administration, many Nigerians can no longer afford kerosene,” he said, adding that the current situation has made life unbearable for the average citizen.

In a recent television interview, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Oladapo Olatunbosun, attributed the surge in gas prices to temporary supply disruptions and market manipulation by certain operators.

Another small-scale trader, Mrs. Hawa Monday, who sells snacks, also shared her experience. She stated that cooking gas is now sold at ₦2,000 to ₦2,500 per kilogram from retailers and ₦1,800 per kilogram from filling stations. “To get gas now, you need a connection,” she said, adding that she recently purchased a bag of sawdust for ₦2,000 to continue her business. “Charcoal doesn’t last anymore unless you buy the expensive briquette type, while kerosene is almost impossible to find.”

Many Nigerians now express deep concern over the rising cost of living and the government’s silence on the issue, fearing that the situation could further worsen if urgent measures are not taken to stabilize the energy market.