NEWS
‘We Can’t Afford Gas Anymore’ — Abuja Residents Turn to Firewood, Charcoal as LPG Price Soars
The continuous rise in the price of cooking gas has forced many residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to abandon Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and embrace traditional cooking fuels such as charcoal and firewood.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the price of cooking gas in Abuja has climbed sharply in recent months, rising from about N1,200 per kilogram to as much as N2,000 per kilogram.
Industry operators have blamed the increase on product scarcity, higher depot costs, foreign exchange pressures and rising transportation expenses.
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Consumers and vendors who spoke with NAN on Sunday said the sharp increase in the cost of cooking gas has made it increasingly difficult for households and small businesses to rely on LPG, forcing many to seek cheaper alternatives.
A food vendor in Gwarimpa, Abuja, Mrs. Mayo Akinpelu, said she stopped using cooking gas after repeated price increases made it too expensive for her business.
According to her, she switched to firewood and charcoal because they are cheaper and can be purchased in smaller quantities.
“Refilling my gas cylinder became difficult because the price kept rising. I could no longer afford it and still make reasonable profit. Right now, 12.5kg of LPG goes for N25,000.
“Firewood and charcoal are not as convenient as gas, but they help me reduce costs and keep my business running,” she said.
Akinpelu added that although some customers complain about delays in food preparation, the alternative fuels have become her only practical option amid the persistent rise in gas prices.
Another food vendor in Dutse, Bwari Area Council, Ms. Victory Samson, said the increase in cooking gas prices had significantly reduced her profit margin and negatively affected her operations.
“It has affected a lot; my profit margin has reduced. The government should help and bring the price back to normal,” she said.
In Kubwa, a business owner, Mrs. Grace Oluwatimilehin, expressed shock over the latest increase, saying she had recently purchased gas at a much lower rate.
“I filled my cylinder at N1,600 per kg the last time, but when I went back yesterday, the price had risen to N2,000 per kg.
“I now use electric hot plates for cooking and sometimes rely on charcoal and firewood instead of gas,” she said.
For many households, the rising cost of LPG has further increased financial pressure amid the country’s economic challenges.
A resident, Mrs. Abike Ojo, said the continuous rise in gas prices was placing severe strain on her family’s budget.
“The last time I bought gas, it was N1,500 per kg, but my most recent purchase cost N2,000.
“If prices keep rising, I may stop using gas entirely because it has become too expensive,” she said.
She appealed to the government to intervene, warning that the increasing cost of cooking gas could further worsen household expenses.
Reacting to the development, a gas vendor in Kubwa, Mr. Bamishile Bolanle, confirmed that cooking gas currently sells for N2,000 per kilogram.
“The increase has affected business because people’s purchasing power has dropped significantly.
“From what we observe, the major issue is product scarcity, although we do not know the exact cause,” Bolanle said.
Another gas vendor in Dei-Dei, Mr. Alfred Orshio, said the steady rise in gas prices had led to a noticeable decline in customer patronage.
“Earlier this year, we sold gas for N1,200 per kg. It later rose to N1,400, then N1,800, and now N2,000.
“I cannot blame customers for buying less. Filling a 12kg cylinder now costs about N25,000,” Orshio said.
Meanwhile, sellers of charcoal and firewood say they are benefiting from the shift away from cooking gas.
A charcoal distributor in Kubwa, Mrs. Amina Yakubu, said demand for charcoal has increased significantly as more residents look for cheaper cooking options.
“Patronage has increased recently, and I believe it is because of the rising cost of cooking gas.
“I buy a bag of charcoal for N6,500 and sell it to my customers for N8,000,” she said.
Another charcoal vendor, Mrs. Saratu Ibrahim, also confirmed growing demand, saying her stock now sells much faster than before.
“Business is moving very fast. What used to take more than a week to sell now takes just two days. However, many people have joined the charcoal business.
“I was the first seller on this street, but there are now more than five charcoal vendors here,” she said.
A firewood seller, Mr. Taninu Ibrahim, also reported a significant increase in demand, noting that more households and food vendors were abandoning cooking gas due to rising costs.
According to him, the growing demand has also pushed up the price of firewood.
“More people now buy firewood because cooking gas has become too expensive for many families and small businesses.
“Before now, customers got six pieces of firewood for N1,000. Today, the same amount buys only four pieces,” he said.
Ibrahim attributed the increase in firewood prices to rising demand and transportation costs, adding that patronage remains strong despite the higher prices.
As cooking gas prices continue to rise, residents and business owners are increasingly adopting alternative cooking methods, raising concerns over affordability and the growing cost of living in the Federal Capital Territory.
Stakeholders have called on the government to intervene and stabilise prices, while vendors warned that persistent scarcity and weak consumer purchasing power could further reduce gas consumption and negatively impact business activities across the territory.
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of six nominees for executive director positions at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Senate for confirmation, retaining three existing directors while introducing three new nominees.
The nominations were conveyed to the Senate in a letter from the President, according to a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The six nominees comprise three executive directors seeking reappointment and three new candidates proposed for different leadership positions within the petroleum regulatory agency.
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The officials nominated for reappointment are Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director of Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community.
The three new nominees are Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, proposed as Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ogechukwu Modie, nominated as Executive Director of Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Said Abutalib, nominated as Executive Director of Corporate Services and Administration.
If confirmed by the Senate, all six nominees will serve five-year terms.
President Tinubu urged the lawmakers to consider the nominations expeditiously, stating that the appointments would ensure institutional continuity and strengthen the Authority’s oversight capacity.
In a related development, the President has approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board/Authority and Legal Adviser of the NMDPRA.
Her appointment is subject to the completion of the statutory processes stipulated under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The latest nominations follow Tinubu’s appointment of Engr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive of the NMDPRA in April.
The Senate’s consideration and confirmation of the six nominees will determine their formal appointment to the respective executive director positions.
In the bid to improve environmental sanitation, the Osun State Government plans to engage with immediate effect, able-bodied men and women as ad hoc road sweepers.
Biztellers reports that the exercise would cover designated areas of the state.
The recruitment exercise, announced by the Osun State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation (OSTES) is open to medically fit able bodied men and women who are residents of the areas where they intend to work.
According to the public service announcement, applicants must be at least 30 years of age, medically fit and resident in their preferred areas of assignment.
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The designated areas mentioned by the Taskforce include Akoda- Abere, Ataoja -Ogo-Oluwa, Olaiya -Old Garage, Igbonna -Ayetoro, Power Line – Ota-Efun and Kobongbogboe.
Other areas covered by the exercise are Ataoja- Dele Yes Sir, Stadium- Testing Ground and Ilesa- Garage, as well as Oke-Fia -Dada Estate, Dele Yes Sir- Lameco and Oroki Housing Estate.
Interested applicants are required to submit application letters to the General Manager, Osun Waste Management Agency, at its office located at the former Boreepo House, West Bye-Pass, Ring Road, Osogbo.
The announcement further stated that the deadline for submission of applications is Thursday, November 12th, 2026.
The recruitment is expected to support routine road sweeping and complement the state’s efforts to promote a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.
Applicants have been advised to ensure that they meet the stated requirements and reside within the areas where they seek to be deployed.
It would be recalled that the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had earlier declared every Thursday of the week as Environmental Sanitation Day throughout the state during which offices, markets, shopping malls and homes among other public places are to be swept clean between 8am and 10am.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said it has sponsored nearly 15,000 Nigerians for studies at home and abroad, with 1,571 scholars currently studying in 15 countries, as of July 2026.
This is as the Fund is now asking the United Kingdom (UK) to help address visa rejections, high tuition fees and the monitoring of its scholars, which it says are putting pressure on the programme.
The executive secretary of the Fund, Prof Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, made the request on Tuesday at a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles. The meeting was held at the General Shehu Musa Yar’adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, Kaduna.
According to Aliyu, the Fund had sponsored the beneficiaries through its Overseas Scholarship Scheme and In-Country Scholarship Scheme, for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
He said that as of July 2026, 1,571 scholars were studying in 15 countries and more than 120 partner institutions. He added that demand for PTDF scholarships was still rising.
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The executive secretary said the UK had for decades been the Fund’s main partner in building skills for Nigeria’s energy sector.
He said the PTDF worked with 24 British universities, including Robert Gordon, Strathclyde, Portsmouth, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester.
He said the partnership had helped train thousands of Nigerian engineers, geoscientists, researchers and energy professionals.
Aliyu also said the Fund worked with institutions in Germany, France and Malaysia, where it sought cheaper ways to train Nigerians. He said the Fund still wanted to keep its long-standing ties with the UK.
The ES told the High Commissioner that the Fund was facing problems with its UK partners. He listed these as tuition fees that were high compared with other European countries, and visa rejections.
“I would like to take this opportunity to highlight several challenges we are facing with our UK partners for the High Commissioner’s attention,” he said.
He said the Fund also wanted a plan to monitor its scholars in the UK, with support from the UK government and the host universities.
Aliyu did not give figures for the fee increases or the number of visa rejections.
In response, Vowles said the British High Commission understood the difficulties, especially those linked to visas and increases in tuition fees.
“We will take these concerns away as a team and communicate them to the relevant stakeholders within the UK system,” he said.
The High Commissioner said the PTDF and the High Commission had worked together to simplify the process. He said the PTDF’s recognition as a government-approved sponsor was expected to help.
“Having the PTDF recognised as a government-approved sponsor will hopefully make the process much smoother,” he said.
He did not promise any change in fees or visa rules.
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