Many residents of Osun State are abandoning cooking gas and returning to firewood and charcoal as the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) continues to rise.
The development follows a sharp increase in cooking gas prices, with some retailers now selling the product for as much as ₦2,000 to ₦2,150 per kilogram.
The rising cost has left many households struggling to cope, forcing families and business owners to seek cheaper alternatives for cooking.
For food vendors, the situation has become even more challenging.
Mrs. Rukayat Abiola, a fast-food seller in Owode-Ede, said the soaring gas prices have significantly increased her operating costs, forcing her to adjust food prices while also relying on charcoal and firewood to cut expenses.
She appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and help stabilise cooking gas prices.
Residents also expressed frustration over the continuous increase.
Mrs. Folasade Adebayo described the cost of refilling a gas cylinder as a major burden, saying she had switched to using a coal pot because gas had become too expensive.
Another resident, Juliet Adeosun, said her family may completely abandon gas if prices fail to drop in the coming weeks.
Petty trader Foluke Olugbemiga revealed that she had already returned to using firewood after years of depending on cooking gas.
According to her, many families are finding it increasingly difficult to afford cleaner cooking fuels.
Meanwhile, gas retailers blamed the situation on supply shortages, rising depot prices, and increasing transportation costs.
A retailer, Dayo Efunkunle, explained that sellers have been forced to adjust prices to stay in business.
Industry operators are now calling on the government to boost local gas production and improve distribution systems to prevent further increases.
They warned that if the trend continues, more Nigerians may abandon cooking gas and return to traditional cooking methods such as charcoal and firewood.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
