Many residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are increasingly turning to charcoal and firewood as soaring cooking gas prices make LPG less affordable.
The cost of cooking gas in Abuja has climbed significantly in recent months, rising from around N1,200 per kilogram to nearly N2,000 per kilogram. Stakeholders in the sector blame the sharp increase on supply challenges, escalating depot charges, foreign exchange fluctuations, and higher transportation costs.
The situation has left many consumers searching for more affordable alternatives to meet their daily cooking needs.
A food vendor based in Gwarimpa, Abuja, Mayo Akinpelu, said she abandoned cooking gas after repeated price hikes began affecting the sustainability of her business. She explained that she now relies on charcoal and firewood because they are more affordable 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 noted that while customers occasionally complain about longer cooking times, she has little choice but to use alternative fuels in the current economic climate.
Similarly, another food vendor in Dutse, within the Bwari Area Council, Victory Samson, said the rising cost of cooking gas has eaten deeply into her earnings and disrupted her business operations.
