(charcoal. Photo by Realnews Magazine)
Following the increase in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), some cooking gas vendors in Enugu State have bemoaned reduced sales, claiming that many locals have turned to burning charcoal as a less expensive option.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, the vendors blamed the drop in sales on the country’s rising cooking gas prices.
In order to alleviate Nigerians’ already severe financial situation, they pleaded for the federal government to step in and address the causes of price increases.
Gas retailers and consumers across Nigeria are feeling the strain of soaring liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, with traders reporting sharp declines in sales and households cutting back on consumption.
Retailer Emmanuel Okam described the current business climate as discouraging, noting that customers who once purchased five kilogrammes of gas now settle for just two due to the rising cost.
He said he buys gas at around N1,600 per kilogramme from suppliers and sells at N1,850, but even at that price point, many customers struggle to afford the quantities they need.
Okam said his weekly sales have dropped from about 60 kilogrammes to roughly half that amount, despite lowering his profit margin to attract more patronage, a development he said is affecting his ability to meet financial obligations.
He called on the government to collaborate with gas suppliers to bring down LPG costs at the source, arguing that such a reduction would ultimately benefit consumers.
Another retailer, Ifeanyi Maduka, attributed the decline in patronage to the broader economic situation, noting that gas which previously sold for N400 to N500 per kilogramme now exceeds N1,000, alongside rising fuel prices.
He said customers still visit his outlet, but in smaller numbers and reduced purchase volumes due to limited purchasing power, adding that price instability from suppliers makes it difficult for retailers to maintain consistent pricing.
He noted that prices across different outlets vary widely, ranging from N1,750 to as high as N2,000 per kilogramme.
A resident, Ukamaka Okoro, a secondary school teacher, said she previously bought seven kilogrammes of cooking gas but had to scale down her purchase after discovering the price had risen to N1,850 per kilogramme.
She appealed to the government to urgently intervene to ease the burden on low-income earners like herself.
Meanwhile, a charcoal dealer who spoke on condition of anonymity said his business has seen a notable rise in patronage as more households turn to cheaper cooking fuel alternatives amid the rising cost of gas and kerosene.
He said a bag of charcoal currently sells for between N8,000 and N8,500 depending on size, with prices remaining relatively stable in recent months.
He noted that the main challenge facing the trade is the cost of transporting charcoal from supply areas such as Eha-Amufu in Enugu State and parts of Benue and Kogi states.
