Cooking Gas Prices in Nigeria Rise as 5kg Hits N7,655 Amid March 2026 Inflation Pressure

Cooking gas prices in Nigeria recorded another sharp increase in March 2026, placing additional pressure on households already struggling with rising living costs. According to the latest Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Price Watch from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the average cost of refilling a 5kg cylinder rose to N7,655.73, while a 12.5kg cylinder climbed to N19,652.83.

The report shows that the 5kg cylinder price increased by 12.60% compared to February 2026, when it stood at N6,799.18. On a year-on-year basis, the price also rose by 4.55%, highlighting persistent inflation in the domestic energy market. The 12.5kg cylinder recorded an even steeper monthly jump of 15.62%, reflecting rising distribution and import costs.

Across the country, price variations remained significant. Kaduna State recorded the highest average price for 5kg cylinders at N9,212.21, closely followed by Lagos at N8,909.73 and Taraba at N8,802.78. In contrast, Bauchi, Osun, and Ondo recorded the lowest prices. For the 12.5kg cylinder, Nasarawa topped the list at N23,418.12, while Bauchi again recorded the lowest at N15,738.50.

Regional analysis shows that the North-West remains the most expensive zone for cooking gas, while the South-South and South-East recorded relatively lower averages. Experts link the price surge to a combination of supply chain constraints, foreign exchange pressures, and global energy market instability, particularly tensions affecting oil and gas routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

Energy analysts warn that rising LPG costs could slow Nigeria’s gradual shift away from firewood and kerosene, especially among low-income households. With inflation already at 15.38% in March 2026, according to the NBS, the continued rise in essential utilities like cooking gas adds to concerns about worsening cost-of-living pressures across the country.

source: nairametrics