“Delta Households Return to Firewood as Cooking Gas Prices Force Families to Cut Meals”
Families across Delta State are increasingly abandoning liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for firewood and charcoal as the cost of cooking gas rises sharply, deepening pressure on household budgets already strained by food inflation, transport costs and weak purchasing power.
Residents in major communities including Warri, Asaba, Ughelli, Agbor, Sapele and Kwale say refilling gas cylinders has become unaffordable for many low- and middle income households. Some families are buying only small quantities of gas to last a few days, while others are reducing the number of meals prepared daily or returning to traditional fuels.
A report by found that cooking gas prices in parts of Delta had climbed rapidly in recent weeks. Retailers cited unstable supply, rising depot prices and transportation costs as factors behind the increases.
In some locations, consumers were reported to be paying between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 per kilogramme, with prices varying by town and retail outlet. The sharp fluctuations have made it difficult for households and small food businesses to plan their spending.
For many families, the shift away from gas is not a preference but a survival measure. Firewood and charcoal can be purchased in smaller quantities, making them more accessible to households that cannot afford to refill an entire cylinder at once. However, the return to solid fuels raises concerns about indoor air pollution, deforestation and the health risks associated with prolonged smoke exposure.
Food vendors are also feeling the impact. Some operators say the rising cost of LPG is eroding already narrow profit margins, while increasing food prices could drive away customers whose incomes have not kept pace with the cost of living.
The situation in Delta reflects a wider national trend. In the Federal Capital Territory, households and small businesses have similarly turned to charcoal and firewood after cooking gas prices reportedly rose to around ₦2,000 per kilogramme in some markets. Industry operators have linked the broader increase to supply shortages, higher depot costs, foreign exchange pressures and rising logistics expenses.
Across Nigeria, the affordability of clean cooking energy remains central to public health, environmental protection and household welfare. While LPG has long been promoted as a cleaner alternative to biomass fuels, persistent price instability risks reversing progress in the transition away from firewood and charcoal.
The growing pressure on households highlights the need for coordinated measures to stabilize domestic LPG supply, reduce distribution bottlenecks and protect vulnerable consumers from energy costs that are increasingly shaping what and how often families can cook.