Millions of Nigerians are abandoning cooking gas and kerosene as rising energy costs push households back to using firewood for daily cooking.
With the cost of refilling a 12.5kg gas cylinder now averaging over N22,000, many families say clean cooking alternatives have become unaffordable. In several parts of the country, gas now sells for as much as N2,000 to N3,000 per kilogram, forcing both households and small businesses to seek cheaper options.
The situation has also affected kerosene users, with prices climbing to nearly N4,000 per litre in some states, making it increasingly difficult for low-income earners to cope.
Many food vendors and families who previously relied on LPG say they have returned to firewood despite concerns over health risks and environmental damage. Some residents described the development as a painful step backward, arguing that a country blessed with vast natural gas reserves should not have citizens struggling to afford basic cooking fuel.
Industry experts blame the crisis on heavy dependence on imported LPG, foreign exchange challenges, and rising supply chain costs, which continue to drive up prices across the country.
As more Nigerians switch to firewood, experts warn that the trend could worsen deforestation, increase respiratory illnesses, and reverse years of progress made in promoting clean cooking energy.
