Residents of Kano metropolis have expressed concern over the continuous rise in the price of Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, amid acute scarcity.
In separate interviews with correspondents, residents lamented that the development had made it increasingly difficult for them to access the product.
A survey conducted on Wednesday revealed long queues at gas stations and depots, while some outlets had completely run out of stock. Prices reportedly increased by about 25 per cent in the past five days.
Currently, one kilogramme of cooking gas sells between ₦1,800 and ₦2,000, depending on location, while refilling a 12.5kg cylinder costs between ₦20,000 and ₦25,000 up from previous prices of ₦1,200 and ₦14,000 respectively.
Nura Bala, a resident of Hausawa quarters, said the situation had become financially draining.
“Cooking gas price has increased. We bought it at ₦1,500 per kilogramme due to scarcity,” he said.
Similarly, Michelle Emeka, who lives in Sabon Gari, said she purchased a three-kilogramme cylinder for ₦6,000, attributing the shortage to a drastic reduction in supply.
“You can see the queue. I’ve never seen this before,” she added.
Another resident, Saleh Idris of Rijiyar Zaki quarters, described the situation as unprecedented.
“I’ve never witnessed this kind of situation before. People are waiting in queues for hours to get gas, and the price keeps increasing daily,” he said.
A gas dealer, Sani Muhammad, explained that major depots had exhausted their stock, leading to the shortage across the metropolis.
“We don’t have LPG now. I can’t say the current price. The last one was sold between ₦1,350 and ₦1,450 per kg,” he stated.
He further attributed the scarcity to an ongoing industrial dispute between the tanker drivers’ union and Dangote Refinery.
As a result, correspondents observed a surge in the use of charcoal for domestic cooking, with new sales outlets springing up across the city to meet high demand.
(NAN)