Enugu cooking gas sellers lament low patronage as residents switch to charcoal

Cooking gas sellers in Enugu State, Nigeria, are facing a significant downturn in business as the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) continues to soar. Residents, struggling with the increased cost, are increasingly turning to charcoal, a cheaper alternative for cooking, leading to sharply reduced sales for gas retailers.

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Business is no longer what it used to be. Before now, I could refill up to five or six cylinders in a week, but demand has dropped sharply due to high gas prices.

Retailers like Emmanuel Okam report a drastic drop in demand, with customers now buying smaller quantities of gas. Okam explained that he buys gas at approximately N1,600 per kilogram and sells it for N1,850, but even this price is becoming unaffordable for many. He has reduced his profit margins, selling about half the quantity he used to, which severely impacts his income and ability to meet financial obligations.

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I buy gas at about N1,600 per kilogram from suppliers and sell to households at about N1,850. Even at that, many customers cannot afford to buy the quantity they need.

Another retailer, Ifeanyi Maduka, attributed the decline to the broader economic situation in Nigeria, where prices for fuel and other essentials have also risen. Maduka noted that while customers still visit, their purchasing power has diminished, and gas prices remain unstable, with suppliers increasing costs unpredictably. He sells gas between N1,750 and N1,800 per kilogram, while some outlets charge as much as N2,000.

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Nigeria is really affecting all of us. Gas that used to sell for between N400 and N500 has risen to over N1,000, while fuel prices have also increased. Everything is becoming more expensive in Nigeria.

Consumers like Ukamaka Okoro, a secondary school teacher, are forced to cut back on gas usage. Having previously bought seven kilograms, she now buys less due to the N1,850 per kilogram price. She appealed to the government for urgent intervention to ease the burden on low-income earners. The situation has led to a boom for charcoal dealers in Ebonyi State, as reported elsewhere, highlighting the significant shift in household energy consumption.

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Customers are coming, but not like before, because money is not circulating. Gas prices are no longer stable. A supplier can increase the price at any time, which affects retailers and consumers alike.