Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and surrounding communities are increasingly abandoning cooking gas for charcoal and firewood following the steady rise in energy and living costs.
Findings by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) now ranges between N1,400 and N1,500 per kilogram, forcing several households to adopt cheaper cooking alternatives.
Residents who spoke in separate interviews in Abuja on Wednesday lamented the rising prices of cooking gas, charcoal, kerosene, and firewood, saying the situation has placed additional pressure on family budgets.
According to the survey, a bag of charcoal currently sells between N8,000 and N10,000, while five pieces of firewood cost between N2,000 and N2,500 depending on location and bargaining power. Single pieces of firewood are sold for about N300 to N500, while kerosene sells for as high as N2,100 per litre in some retail outlets.
A public servant living in Karu, Mr. Manasseh Amos, said many low- and middle-income families now combine cooking gas with charcoal and firewood in order to survive the economic situation.
He explained that although gas remains cleaner and more convenient, the increasing refill cost has made it difficult for many families to rely on it alone.
“Refilling a 12.5kg cylinder that previously cost around N14,000 now goes for between N16,000 and N17,000 or more, depending on the station,” he said.
Amos called on stakeholders in the energy sector to intervene and make cooking gas more affordable for ordinary Nigerians.
Also speaking, Mrs. Nkechi Desmond, a resident of Dutse-Alhaji, said charcoal had become her preferred alternative despite its rising price.
According to her, many families now switch between gas, charcoal, and firewood depending on what they can afford at a given time and the quantity of food to be prepared.
Another resident, Mr. Salami Aderinto, maintained that his family still prefers cooking gas because it is faster, cleaner, and safer, although its rising cost has become a major burden.
A roadside food vendor in Bwari, Hajiya Rabi Ahmadu, said she relies heavily on firewood for her business because using gas alone is no longer profitable.
“If I depend only on gas, I may not make enough profit. Firewood helps reduce my expenses, especially when cooking in large quantities,” she said.
Meanwhile, a charcoal and firewood seller in Nyanya, Mrs. Ngozi Ekene, linked the growing demand for charcoal and firewood to their relative affordability compared to gas.
She noted, however, that economic hardship has also affected buyers, as many customers who previously bought full bags of charcoal now purchase smaller quantities based on what they can afford.
Ekene explained that transportation costs have also contributed to the increase in charcoal prices, with sellers buying bags for as much as N8,000 to N9,000 before reselling them at higher prices.
Experts have continued to warn about the environmental and health risks associated with prolonged dependence on firewood and charcoal, especially among low-income households and rural communities.
(NAN)
