By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
Lagos residents are at the moment, facing severe hardship following a very sharp rise in cooking gas prices, coupled with widespread scarcity in the state.
Lagosians are feeling the pinch as cooking gas prices continue to skyrocket, with refilling a 12.5kg cylinder costing as much as N18,536 in some areas.
This has forced many to revert to charcoal or firewood for cooking.
Ladi Simon, a business owner, said, “I spent hours yesterday going from station to station just to find gas. When I finally got it, it was sold at N2,000 per kilogram; is that fair?
“I’m now torn between using firewood or charcoal because this is outrageous. The government needs to act urgently.”
Joseph, a public servant, stated, “I honestly don’t know how else to plead with the government to address this. Let’s just hope for the best and pray this ends soon.”
An attendant at a popular gas station in Isheri Osun, Lagos State, expressed her concern: “We’re struggling to meet customer demand due to supply issues.
“The prices keep rising, and it’s affecting our sales.”
Another attendant noted, “Some customers can’t afford the new prices, so they’re opting for smaller cylinders or alternative cooking methods. Honestly, you can’t blame them.”
Kayode, a transporter and resident of Ikotun, had this to say, “It’s not just the fuel scarcity we’re facing; the cooking gas price hike is now affecting our operations.
“We’re forced to pass the costs to our customers. Only God can help us in this country.”
Adeyemi Ayomide, a colleague of Okafor, shared, “The government should help the people; this is why we voted for them. We cannot continue suffering like this.”
Emeka Okafor, a car dealer in Ladipo and a resident of Lagos State, expressed deep frustration: “With the current economic situation, it’s getting harder to afford cooking gas.
“I’ve had to reduce my usage and resort to firewood sometimes. We’re still grappling with the rising cost of foodstuffs, and now this.
“I am beyond dissatisfied and disappointed with the way the country is heading.”
The Nigerian government has initiated programmes like the Domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (DLPG) scheme to promote LPG use, but inadequate infrastructure and investment in the gas sector continue to hinder progress.
