By Ajibola Olaide, JKNMedia Reporter
REPORTING A significant rise in cooking gas prices across Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Benue and Zamfara states record the highest costs for refilling LPG cylinders.
This revelation comes from the NBS’s Liquified Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch for May 2024.
According to the report, the average price for refilling a 5kg LPG cylinder increased by 13.75% on a month-on-month basis, climbing from ₦6,521.58 in April 2024 to ₦7,417.26 in May 2024.
A state-by-state analysis showed that Benue had the highest average price at ₦8,012.03, followed by Enugu at ₦7,926.21, and Ondo at ₦7,857.53. In contrast, Yobe recorded the lowest price at ₦5,842.31, with Jigawa and Katsina following at ₦6,521.81 and ₦6,567.95, respectively.
Regionally, the South-East reported the highest average price for a 5kg refill at ₦7,680.87, while the South-West averaged ₦6,593.93. The North-East had the lowest regional average at ₦7,071.84.
The report also highlighted changes in the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg LPG cylinder. Year-on-year, prices soared by 63.85%, rising from ₦9,537.89 in May 2023 to ₦15,627.40 in May 2024. However, there was a slight month-on-month decline of 0.07%, from ₦15,637.74 in April 2024 to ₦15,627.40 in May 2024.
Zamfara led the country with the highest average price for a 12.5kg refill at ₦18,369.33, trailed by Bayelsa at ₦17,772.21 and Abia at ₦17,538.02. On the lower end, Bauchi had the cheapest price at ₦13,076.43, followed by Ebonyi at ₦13,788.09, and Taraba at ₦13,860.31.
Regionally, the South-South recorded the highest average price for a 12.5kg refill at ₦16,310.02.
The North-West followed with an average of ₦15,991.13, while the North-East had the lowest at ₦15,010.62, adding that these price changes reflect the broader economic conditions affecting the cost of living and energy consumption in Nigeria.
