The prices of refilling different kilogrammes of cylinders of cooking gas have continued to skyrocket.
Investigation by New Telegraph yesterday showed that, in Lagos, the costs of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder had risen to N16,800; 6kg, N8,400 and 1 kg, N1,400 as against N15,600 for 12.5 kg cylinder; 6kg for N7,800 and 1kg for N1,300 as of July 28, 2024.
Recall that as of July 13, to refill a 12.5 kg cylinder was N14,500; 6kg for N7,200 and 1kg for N1,200 while in June, to refill 12.5kg cylinder was N13,200; 6kg, N6,600 and 1k , N1,100 while in May, the prices were N1,100 for 1kg, and N6,600.
A cooking gas vendor, who requested not to be named, attributed the increases to the falling value of naira to the dollar. He said that the unpleasant trend had negatively affected their businesses as their turnover has substantially reduced.
He lamented that the number of customers had been decreasing, adding that their businesses and families have been threatened by lack of patronage.
According to him, their customers have been complaining of the high cost of cook gas refill and lack of income. He said the customers complained that their income was declining.
An energy analyst, Chike Obiakor, said the continuous rise in price of cooking gas cylinder refill had negative consequences on the nation.
He stated that it had caused some people to resort to the use of charcoal leading to an increase in the felling of trees. He appealed to the Federal Government to address the rising cost of gas cylinder refill to avoid more environmental degradation and desertification as a result of more cutting of trees for charcoal.
According to him, the increasing resort to charcoal as a result of high cost of gas negates the global energy transition target and the nation’s energy transition plan.
He noted that the scarcity of fuel, the attendant long queues in few filling stations that occasionally have stock and increasing cost had unleashed great suffering on Nigerians and reduced their economic activities and business ventures.