Cooking gas prices in the country hit an unprecedented high this year, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In its latest Price Watch report, the NBS said the average price of refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) climbed to N8,167.43 in May 2025, while the 12.5kg refill shot up to N20,709.11 – both representing the steepest costs recorded this year.
This marks a 3.57 per cent increase in the 5kg refill price from N7,885.60 in April 2025, and a 2.18 per cent rise for the 12.5kg refill from the N20,268.06 recorded the previous month. Year-on-year, the May 2025 prices represent a 10.10 per cent and 32.52 per cent spike respectively, compared to the same period in 2024.
The price build-up reflects a steady month-on-month climb since the start of the year. According to the NBS data, in January 2025, the 5kg refill was sold at N7,040.94, increasing slightly to N7,072.10 in February, then N7,322.49 in March, and N7,885.60 in April, before hitting the current all-time high of N8,167.43 in May.
Similarly, the 12.5kg refill started at N17,432.89 in January, rose to N17,492.42 in February, followed by N18,456.24 in March, N20,268.06 in April, and now N20,709.11 in May, underscoring a steady rise in LPG costs.
“The average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased froom N7,885.60 in April 2025 to N8,167.43 in May 2025. On a year-on-year basis, it rose by 10.10 per cent,” the Bureau stated.
“For 12.5kg, the price increased by 2.18 percent month-on-month and 32.52 per cent year-on-year, reaching N20,709.11 in May 2025,” it added.
highest average price for 5kg at N9,181.20, followed by Ebonyi (N9,177.32) and Rivers (N9,174.40). Oyo posted the lowest at N7,116.49, with Niger and Plateau closely behind at N7,142.07 and N7,177.10 respectively.
For the 12.5kg refill, Delta topped the chart with an average price of N23,356.46, followed by Abia at N22,953.01 and Ebonyi at N22,943.30. Yobe recorded the lowest average at N18,500, while Lagos and Kebbi posted relatively lower prices at N18,536.00 and N18,606.60.
A zonal breakdown showed households in the South-South paid the most, with an average of N8,760.51 for 5kg and N22,026.26 for 12.5kg. The South-East followed closely. On the lower end, the North-Central recorded the lowest 5kg refill average at N7,759.38, while the North-West paid the least for 12.5kg at N19,944.10.
