Cooking Gas Prices Push Kaduna, Zaria Residents to Charcoal, Firewood

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Rising cooking gas prices are pushing residents in Kaduna and Zaria to seek alternative energy sources, with many turning to charcoal and firewood for cooking. According to PREMIUM TIMES HAUSA, residents in the two cities are relying more heavily on charcoal due to the high cost of cooking gas.

Christiana Yakubu, a mother of three, said the rising cost of cooking gas has placed enormous pressure on family budgets. Christiana Yakubu is a resident in Kaduna. She has three children. Christiana Yakubu said, 'Cooking gas is very expensive now. What many families do is buy two or three kilogrammes to prepare meals quickly, especially in the mornings when children are going to school. The rest of the cooking is done with charcoal or firewood,' she said.

A charcoal seller, Habiba Irimiya, said her family reserves gas for emergencies while relying mainly on charcoal for everyday cooking. Habiba Irimiya is a resident in Zaria. She sells charcoal. Habiba Irimiya said, 'I use charcoal most of the time because it is readily available and cheaper than gas,' she said.

Joshua Dauda, a cooking gas retailer in Zaria, said students constitute a large percentage of his customers. Joshua Dauda is a retailer in Zaria. He sells gas to students. Joshua Dauda said, 'Students usually buy small quantities. Once it finishes, they come back for more because many of them do not have access to alternatives such as charcoal or firewood,' he said.

At the Mamu Gas Plant in Zaria, a senior technician, Dauda Abdulrahim, said demand for cooking gas remains strong despite the high prices. Dauda Abdulrahim is a technician at Mamu Gas Plant. He works at the plant in Zaria. Dauda Abdulrahim said, 'Some gas plants sell between N1,700 and N1,800 per kilogramme, while we sell at about N1,600 per kilogramme. We try to make it affordable for our customers,' he said.

However, operators say supply shortages are compounding rising prices. The Managing Director of Sanco Gas Plant, Hamza Aliyu-Harande, described the current situation as one of the most challenging periods in the industry. Hamza Aliyu-Harande is the Managing Director of Sanco Gas Plant. He manages the plant. Hamza Aliyu-Harande said, 'I have been in this business for 11 years, and two weeks ago was the first time I completely ran out of gas to sell,' he said.

A gas retailer in Kaduna, Abdulshakur Hamza, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES HAUSA, said he shut down his business because customers could no longer afford to buy cooking gas regularly. Abdulshakur Hamza is a retailer in Kaduna. He sold gas. Abdulshakur Hamza said, 'People stopped patronising us because of the high prices. I could no longer sustain the business under the current conditions, so I closed my shop and left the gas business entirely,' he said.

According to PREMIUM TIMES HAUSA, the increasing cost of cooking gas has worsened the economic hardship facing ordinary Nigerians. Christiana Yakubu, a resident in Kaduna, said cooking gas has become a luxury item for many families. Christiana Yakubu said, 'Before now, I could fill my cylinder once and use it for weeks. Today, I buy small quantities because my salary can no longer cover household expenses,' she said.

Although kerosene was once a major cooking fuel in Nigeria, many households have not returned to its use despite the high cost of cooking gas. Residents said they have not returned to using kerosene because it is increasingly scarce in many parts of the country, and its price has also risen significantly.

And many charcoal sellers are experiencing increased demand, with Habiba Irimiya saying her business is thriving due to the high cost of gas. Habiba Irimiya said, 'Business is moving well because many people can no longer afford to depend entirely on gas,' she said.