Despite environmental implications like air pollution and climate change, among others, many Nigerians are resorting to the use of charcoal and firewood as alternative fuel.

This is not unconnected to the surge in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, which has hit N2,500 per kilogramme in some locations in Lagos.

Apart from the price’s hike, many gas stations have refused to open shops, while some are doing skeletal services, thereby creating artificial scarcity, giving a room for vendors to make brisk business out of the situation.

From Oshodi to Ikeja, Mushin, Agege, Iyana Ipaja, Ogba, Abule Egba and Ayobo, among other locations, Lagos’ residents have different stories to tell about the surge in price and scarcity of cooking gas in their localities.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, some of the residents said they bought cooking gas at the weekend between N1,900 and N2,500 per kilogramme, instead of N1,100 and N1,200 in September.

Mrs. Titi Adekunle, a trader, who resides in Ogba, Lagos, said she just bought two small charcoal pots at N15,000 and N20,000 respectively following the scarcity of cooking gas in the neighborhood.

She said that the charcoal pot she bought at N15,000 jumped to N20,000 three days after due to popular demand for the product.

She bemoaned the unnecessary scarcity and struggling for cooking gas by Nigerians, describing the situation as “shameful”, despite the abundant gas resource in the country.

“It is not that my cooking gas has finished, but the anxiety that if it finishes, where we I refill influenced my decision to buy the charcoal pots to support the gas cylinder,” she said.

Another resident in Ojodu, Berger, John Adewale, lament high gas’ price in the vicinity, saying he refilled his 12kg gas cylinder N30,000, which is N2,500 per kilogramme instead of N1,200 per kg early September.

Another person, a beans cake (Akara) vendor, who identified himself simply as “Kenneth”, said that, for some of them who could not afford the current cooking gas’ price, especially the low-income earners, charcoal and firewood have become the solution.

According to him, with N200 and N250, one could purchase small quantities of charcoal for cooking.

He added that one could also get firewood and from N500 to N1,000 from sellers nearby.

A charcoal dealer in Ogba and Agege, Mrs. Anifowose said that a bag of charcoal cost between N12,000 and N15,000 currently, adding that one could get half of a bag for N6000 and N7,500 depending on the location.

Also, bread bakers and producers of meat pies are lamenting the situation, threatening to increase prices of their products if the cooking gas’ price hike persists.

Until recently, many Nigerians assumed the price surge was due to another government-approved increase. But according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), there has been no official adjustment in the cost of cooking gas.

The sudden spike, officials say, is linked to a recent strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which disrupted supply.

Also, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Oladapo Olatunbosun, had attributed the price surge to temporary supply disruptions.

“What is happening is that some marketers are taking advantage of the shortage in supply and market forces that have increased demand. They are cashing in to make quick money, which is wrong,” Olatunbosun said in a Television show.

He assured that the situation is artificial and temporary, and that normalcy is expected to return within days. (Nigerian Tribune)