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.
The Oyo State Government has demolished a building used as a hideout by kidnappers who abducted the younger sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her two children.
The structure, located in the Lakoun community along the Ayegun-Olojuoro Road in Ibadan, was pulled down on Monday following the successful rescue of the victims during a security operation over the weekend.
Mrs. Olaide Adegoke John-Paul, Adelabu’s younger sister, and her 12-year-old twin sons were reportedly held captive in the building before they were freed by security operatives.
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Confirming the demolition, Oyo-based media platform Oyo Affairs shared a video of the exercise on X, stating, “The Oyo State Government has demolished kidnappers’ den at Lakoun, Ayegun-Olojuoro Road, Ibadan, where the sister of former Minister Adebayo Adelabu and her children were held captive.”
The demolition followed a security assessment of the site led by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Oluwagbemiga Abimbola, on Sunday.
Another local news platform, Oyo Matters, also posted photos and videos of the operation, writing, “Oyo Government Demolishes Building Used as Kidnappers’ Hideout in Adelabu Family Abduction, Levels Property to the Ground.”
The government’s action comes days after a coordinated rescue mission that led to the safe recovery of the victims and a major breakthrough in the investigation.
During the operation, two members of the kidnapping syndicate were killed in a gun battle with security personnel, while four other suspects were arrested and later paraded at the Oyo State Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.
Security authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movements or information that could lead to the arrest of other fleeing members of the gang.
The demolition is widely seen as part of the Oyo State Government’s efforts to dismantle criminal networks, deny kidnappers safe havens, and strengthen security across the state.
The dramatic rescue and subsequent demolition have drawn widespread attention, with many residents applauding the government’s swift response to the high-profile abduction case.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the worsening insecurity across the country is not urgently addressed.
The labour unions issued the warning during a joint media briefing held on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
Expressing concern over the rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks in several parts of the country, the labour leaders said Nigerians can no longer continue to live in fear while carrying out their daily activities.
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The unions warned that if the security situation continues to deteriorate without decisive government intervention, organised labour may be left with no choice but to mobilise workers for industrial action nationwide.
According to the labour leaders, the persistent attacks on communities, commuters, farmers, and workers have reached an alarming level, requiring urgent and coordinated action from all levels of government.
“Enough is enough,” the labour centres declared, stressing that the protection of lives and property remains one of the fundamental responsibilities of government.
The NLC and TUC also used the opportunity to dismiss claims by some state governors that negotiations were ongoing with workers on a proposed ₦100,000 minimum wage.
They insisted that such claims do not reflect the current state of discussions on workers’ welfare and cautioned against giving the public a misleading impression about ongoing engagements with organised labour.
The unions reaffirmed their commitment to defending the interests of Nigerian workers and called on the Federal Government to take immediate and effective measures to tackle insecurity across the country.
They warned that failure to halt the rising wave of violence and criminality could trigger nationwide industrial action in the coming weeks.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has cautioned Nigerians against linking criminal activities to any ethnic group, warning that such generalisations promote division and weaken national unity.
Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, expressing concern over what he described as a growing tendency to stereotype entire ethnic communities because of the actions of a few criminal elements.
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The former Anambra State governor said he could identify with the experiences of many Nigerians who have faced prejudice and discrimination based on their ethnic origins, stressing that people should be judged by their character rather than their tribe.
“As an Igbo man, I have endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins. This is not an isolated Igbo experience. Most Nigerians have, at some point, been reduced to their ethnicity rather than recognised for their true character,” Obi stated.
He noted that ethnic stereotyping is a challenge faced by people across the country and should not be encouraged under any circumstance.
Obi specifically spoke about the plight of ordinary Fulani people, saying many of them are unfairly judged and blamed for crimes committed by individuals who neither represent nor have any connection to them.
“I understand the pain of the ordinary Fulani man today, often unfairly judged by the actions of criminals he does not support, has never met, and who are not representative of his people,” he said.
Drawing parallels with the civil rights movement in the United States, Obi referenced the words of renowned civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who advocated for a society where individuals are judged by the content of their character rather than by their identity.
According to Obi, criminality is an individual act and should never be viewed as a characteristic of an entire ethnic group.
“Crime has no ethnicity. A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper. They are bad actors, not representatives of any people,” he declared.
The former governor urged law enforcement agencies to remain focused on identifying, arresting and prosecuting criminals without attaching their actions to entire communities.
“They must be identified, arrested, and punished according to the law. We must decisively abandon the dangerous practice of blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few criminals,” Obi added.
He warned that ethnic profiling only deepens social divisions, breeds mistrust among citizens and creates opportunities for political actors to exploit differences for personal gain.
Obi further called on Nigerians to embrace the country’s diversity and focus on shared values that unite the nation rather than stereotypes that divide it.
According to him, Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity, and citizens must work together to build a society founded on fairness, justice and mutual respect.
“A new Nigeria must emerge—one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace,” he said.
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