The cost of 12kg cooking gas in Nigeria has experienced a significant increase of 55% within the past year, causing widespread concern among the populace.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that the price of 12.5 kilograms (kg) of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly referred to as cooking gas, has surged by 55.66 percent compared to the previous year.

The NBS reports that in July 2024, Nigerians spent an average of N14,261.57 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder, a significant increase from N9,162.11 in July 2023.

The latest price watch report from the NBS for LPG in July also noted a month-on-month decrease of 9.37 percent in the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder.

Specifically, the average retail price fell from N15,736.27 in June 2024 to N14,261.57 in July 2024, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 55.66 percent from N9,162.11 in July 2023.

In its state profile analysis, the NBS highlighted that Gombe had the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N15,872.22, followed closely by Yobe and Taraba at N15,823.32 and N15,625.00, respectively.

Conversely, Bauchi recorded the lowest average price at N13,314.47, with Enugu and Nassarawa following at N13,411.39 and N13,413.81, respectively.

The report also revealed that the north-east region had the highest average retail price at N15,075.16, followed by the north-west at N14,454.86 and the north-central at N13,611.68.

Additionally, the NBS reported a month-on-month decrease of 14.23 percent in the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas, dropping from N6,966.03 in June 2024 to N5,974.55 in July 2024.

However, on a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 46.69 percent from N4,072.87 in July 2023.

According to the analysis of state profiles, Borno has the highest average cost for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) at N7,088.59, followed by Yobe at N6,935.50 and Sokoto at N6,750.00, as reported by the NBS.

Conversely, Delta has the lowest price at N5,392.86, with Zamfara and Kogi following at N5,431.25 and N5,560.63, respectively.

The bureau also noted that the north-east region has the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg LPG cylinder at N6,446.53, while the north-central region follows with a price of N6,042.33, and the south-south region has the lowest at N5,654.04.