A recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has indicated a slight decrease in the cost of refilling cooking gas cylinders across Nigeria, offering a minor respite to households after a period of significant price increases over the past year.
The data, detailing prices for July 2025, shows that the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) decreased by 0.96% on a month-on-month basis.
The figure fell from N8,323.95 in June to N8,243.79 in July. However, this marginal monthly decline is set against a substantial year-on-year increase of 37.98%, starkly highlighting how prices have soared from the N5,974.55 recorded in July 2024.
A similar trend was observed for the larger 12.5kg cylinder, which is commonly used by families and small businesses. The average price for refilling this size fell by 1.91% month-on-month, moving from N21,010.56 in June to N20,609.48 in July. Yet, when compared to the same period last year, the cost has risen by a considerable 44.51% from N14,261.57.
The report also provided a detailed state-by-state analysis, revealing significant regional disparities in the cost of cooking gas. For both the 5kg and 12.5kg cylinders, Adamawa, Rivers, and Taraba consistently emerged as the states with the highest average retail prices. Conversely, Yobe, Niger, and Nasarawa were recorded as the states with the lowest average prices for refilling.
This geographical price variation suggests that logistics, distribution networks, and local market dynamics continue to play a major role in the final cost paid by consumers.
While the slight dip in July will be welcomed by many, the NBS figures ultimately underscore a persistent challenge of affordability. The minimal monthly decreases are largely overshadowed by the steep annual climb in prices, indicating that the cost of cooking gas remains considerably higher for Nigerians than it was just one year ago.
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