Subhead: Dangote-PENGASSAN Rift Deepens Scarcity as Nigerians Battle Soaring Prices, Suffering, and Smoke
By Kayode Emmanuel,
The Brain Special Report Editor
It is that time of the year again; the dreaded fourth quarter, the “ember months” when the price of cooking gas soars like a kite in harmattan wind, and the smoke of scarcity clouds the air. Across Nigerian cities and rural towns, the story is the same: empty gas cylinders, tearful mothers, frustrated students, and business owners counting losses.
Once more, the ritual scarcity has returned. From Lagos to Lokoja, Abuja to Abeokuta, the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has jumped by a staggering 33 percent, climbing from ₦1,200 to ₦1,600 per kilogramme within just two weeks. Some retailers warn it could hit ₦2,000 before the next week.
And this time, the fire behind the smoke is not far-fetched; a rift between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has struck the match.
When the Kitchen Becomes a Battlefront
In many Nigerian homes, cooking has now become a luxury. “I used to refill my 6kg cylinder with ₦7,200,” said Chinyere Nwankwo, a mother of three in Abuja, “but now it costs ₦9,600. How can we survive this?”
She sighs as she eyes the half-filled cylinder in her kitchen. The alternative-firewood or charcoal; is no comfort either. “We live in a rainy season; everything is wet. Yet, we have no choice but to return to the old ways.”
For millions like her, this gas crisis has turned the heart of the home into a battlefield. What used to be a simple meal preparation has become an economic equation; whether to cook, to ration, or to go hungry.
Students, Smoke, and Struggles
In university hostels and off-campus lodges, students groan in silence. Cooking gas, once their cheapest option, is now a burden. Many have returned to makeshift coal stoves and kerosene tins; risking fire outbreaks in crowded environments.
At the University of Lagos, Maryam Yusuf, a 200-level student, lamented, “I used to cook before morning classes, but now I spend hours looking for firewood or queuing at gas stations. Sometimes I miss lectures. How do we cope?”
Like the Israelites in Exodus who murmured in hunger (Exodus 16:3), many Nigerian students today find themselves murmuring; not against Moses, but against a system that keeps recycling suffering.
Business on the Brink
The ripple effect has hit small businesses like a tidal wave. Food vendors, caterers, and restaurant owners; many of whom depend on LPG daily; are feeling the heat.
At a buka in Ikeja, Mama Tolu, a food vendor, revealed that her daily profit has dropped from ₦10,000 to ₦4,000. “We use three big cylinders every two days. Now, we use charcoal and kerosene. My customers complain that food is slow and smells of smoke,” she lamented.
Some bakeries have shut down temporarily; others are cutting production. Street food hawkers who fry akara and yam are now forced to increase prices. The economy is bleeding from the bottom.
When Industry Falters, Economy Suffers
Nigeria’s gas crisis is more than a domestic inconvenience; it is an economic chokehold. According to the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), “Virtually all depots are dry. Vessels are waiting to discharge, but the strike has crippled everything.”
A 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery meant to end Nigeria’s dependence on imports has ironically become the eye of the storm. The stalemate between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN has frozen operations, sacking over 800 workers and halting vessel discharge.
The result? Inflation on essentials, loss of productivity, and a setback to Nigeria’s clean energy transition. The use of firewood and charcoal has surged, undoing years of environmental campaigns.
It echoes the biblical truth of Proverbs 14:34; “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” When greed, pride, and poor leadership cloud the system, the people pay the price.
Who Gains from the Pain?
As the poor sweat, a few are smiling to the bank. Market middlemen, hoarders, and importers are cashing out massively from the artificial scarcity. Like the proverbial vulture that waits for death to feast, they thrive in chaos.
Industry insiders allege that some depot operators deliberately hold back supply to create scarcity and drive up prices. “It’s like a cartel,” said Adam Sulaimon, an LPG retailer in Lagos. “They know people must cook. It’s survival business.”
This has become the new oil boom for a select few;while millions groan under the weight of what economists now call “gasflation.”
As Ecclesiastes 5:10 reminds, “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver.” The greed for gain has turned basic necessity into a goldmine for a few and a curse for the many.
Rain, Smoke, and the Return of Firewood
Ironically, the scarcity worsens during the rainy season; a time when dry firewood is rare. Yet, across the country, Nigerians are returning to primitive methods. Smoke now fills kitchens again, reversing progress on climate goals and health safety.
Medical experts warn that prolonged exposure to smoke from firewood and charcoal can cause respiratory diseases, especially among women and children. But as the saying goes, “A hungry man is an angry man.”
And for now, hunger is stronger than health warnings.
Solutions to the yearly gasflation ritual
The road to resolution lies in sincerity and swift action. Experts and stakeholders suggest:
1. Immediate Government Intervention — The NMDPRA must mediate decisively between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN to restore normalcy.
2. Emergency LPG Imports: To cushion the shortage and stabilize prices.
3. Policy Reform: A transparent pricing system and deregulation that prevents monopoly control.
4. Labour Protection: Addressing worker grievances to avoid recurring industrial strikes.
5. Energy Diversification: Encouraging investment in biogas, solar cookers, and sustainable alternatives.
Like Joseph in Egypt who stored grain before famine (Genesis 41:48–49), Nigeria must plan ahead and build gas reserves that protect citizens from yearly scarcity.
A Lesson in Leadership
The gas crisis is a parable about leadership and empathy. Every shortage, every strike, every inflated price exposes the cracks in governance and the coldness of capitalism.
If those in power and industry heed the cry of the people, perhaps the fire in Nigerian kitchens will one day be for warmth and nourishment — not for survival.
Until then, the words of Isaiah 1:19 remain a guiding truth:
“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.”
But for now, Nigerians are eating smoke, waiting for a system that truly works.
Conclusion
As the price of gas rises faster than hope, one truth burns bright; the ordinary Nigerian remains resilient. The people may bend, but they do not break. Still, it is high time the nation stopped turning survival into a seasonal test.
After all, “A stitch in time saves nine,” and a government that acts late only multiplies the suffering of its people.
“Cooking gas should not be a luxury,” said Nwankwo. But in today’s Nigeria, it feels like only the rich can afford to cook.
