Residents of Kano State are facing severe difficulties as a widespread shortage of cooking gas continues to disrupt daily life, leaving households unable to cook meals, forcing families to spend more than usual, and creating long queues at the few stations that still have stock.
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Daily News 24 reports that on Monday, October 6, most gas stations across the state were closed due to scarcity. At the few operational outlets, such as AA Rano, 1 kg of cooking gas was sold for N1,125, up from the previous price of around N1,080. Many residents are now forced to reduce their purchases or turn to the black market, where 1 kg of gas can cost as high as N1,350.
Auwal Yunusa, a businessman from Kabuga, expressed his frustration, saying, “I have been moving almost all around Kano on my bike in search of cooking gas, but I have not found any. The government should be a problem solver, not a problem creator.”
Khadija Mustapha, a student at Bayero University Kano, said, “I wanted to buy 5 kg, but because of the increased price, I could only afford 3.5 kg. If this continues, it will affect students like me who are already managing on a tight budget.”
Bello Usman from Sharada explained the impact on his household, stating, “With this shortage, my family will have to avoid cooking beans because it consumes too much gas. Many residents now have no choice but to buy from the black market, where prices are exorbitant. We call on the federal government, Dangote, and all stakeholders to resolve this immediately.”
Experts warn that cooking gas prices in Kano may increase further if the current shortage persists and supply delays continue.
Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, attributed the nationwide increase in liquefied petroleum gas prices to the recent strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
Speaking to journalists after a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu, Ojulari noted that some retailers and marketers with existing stock raised their prices during the strike, contributing to the overall surge.
The strike, initially planned in response to Dangote Refinery’s dismissal of Nigerian workers, was suspended on October 1 following federal government intervention and redeployment of affected staff.
