Kerosene And LPG In Nigeria: Cost, Use, And Reality

Kerosene And LPG In Nigeria: Cost, Use, And Reality

When you walk into a typical Nigerian household, especially in rural or semi-urban areas, one of the first things you’ll notice in the kitchen is a kerosene stove or lantern. For decades, kerosene has been the backbone of household energy, powering meals and lighting up homes when electricity fails. But in recent years, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly called cooking gas, has emerged as a cleaner, more efficient option.

Yet here’s the big question: if LPG is cheaper in the long run and healthier for the environment, why do so many Nigerians still rely on kerosene, even though it is no longer cheap?

Let’s unpack this.

The Current Price of Kerosene: A Strain on Households

According to recent data from StatiSense (based on NBS reports for June 2025), the price of kerosene is anything but friendly.

Per Gallon: Edo State tops the list at ₦10,322 per gallon, with Delta (₦9,850) and Kebbi (₦9,723) close behind. Even the cheapest states are still above ₦9,000 per gallon.

Per Litre: Abia offers the lowest price at ₦1,659 per litre, while most states range between ₦2,000 and ₦2,300. On a zonal level, the South-South records the highest average (₦2,337), while the South-West is lowest (₦2,065).

Now pause and think: a family that cooks three meals a day using kerosene could easily spend more than ₦50,000 monthly just on fuel. That’s more than the minimum wage for many workers in Nigeria. 

So, is kerosene really affordable? Clearly not.

LPG: A Cleaner and Smarter Option

Now let’s compare with LPG. As of mid-2025, a kilogram of LPG costs about ₦1,200 – ₦1,400, meaning a full 12.5kg cylinder refill costs between ₦15,000 – ₦17,000.

At first glance, this sounds like a huge lump sum and yes, it feels painful to pay that much at once. But here’s the trick: LPG burns more efficiently. One full cylinder can last an average family for 3–6 weeks, depending on usage. Kerosene, on the other hand, burns faster and requires frequent top-ups.

So if you spread out the cost over time, LPG turns out to be cheaper and cleaner. Plus, it leaves no soot, no smoke, and has fewer health risks compared to kerosene, which contributes to indoor air pollution and respiratory illnesses.

Then Why Is Kerosene Still Popular?

This is where reality hits. It’s not just about what’s cheaper, it’s about what’s accessible and practical.

Low Entry Barrier

You don’t need a gas cylinder or special burner to use kerosene. A small stove and a few litres are enough. In contrast, switching to LPG requires buying a cylinder, regulator, and gas stove, investments that can cost tens of thousands of naira upfront.

Flexibility in Purchase

A family can walk to the nearest roadside seller and buy half a litre of kerosene for a few hundred naira. You can’t do the same with gas—you must refill in bulk. For households living on daily income, that flexibility makes kerosene more attractive.

Availability

Kerosene is sold almost everywhere, from fuel stations to corner shops. LPG distribution, on the other hand, is still concentrated in urban areas. Rural communities often have to travel far to find a refill station.

Cultural Habits

For many families, kerosene stoves and lanterns have been in use for decades. Habits don’t change overnight. Cooking with gas feels like a “new” practice, and some still fear safety risks like explosions.

Price Instability of LPG

Cooking gas prices in Nigeria have been volatile, spiking sharply in recent years. Even though kerosene is expensive, people perceive LPG as a luxury fuel because its refills come in bulk payments.

Finally, some consumers simply use it as a way to burn things or waste and do not actually use it for cooking. 

A Simple Example: A Tale of Two Families

Imagine this:

Family A uses kerosene. They spend around ₦2,000 per litre and need at least 1 litre every two days. That’s nearly ₦30,000 a month, not even counting lantern use.

Family B uses LPG. They refill a 12.5kg cylinder for about ₦16,000 once a month. The upfront cost is high, but their monthly expense is nearly half of what Family A spends.

So who’s really saving more? Clearly, Family B. But not every family can afford the initial jump to LPG.

What Needs to Change?

For Nigeria to move from kerosene to LPG (and eventually to renewable energy sources), a few things must happen:

Expand LPG Infrastructure: More refill stations, especially in rural areas, to make gas as accessible as kerosene.

Subsidize Start-up Kits: Government or private initiatives to make cylinders and stoves affordable for low-income households. In defence of the government there has been many of such schemes that shares free gas cylinders to low income areas like the Eko Gas Initiative. 

Stable Pricing: Policies to ensure LPG prices are stable, so families can trust it as a reliable option.

Awareness and Safety Education: Campaigns to dispel fears around cooking gas and promote its benefits over kerosene.

A Balancing Act

At the end of the day, kerosene in Nigeria is no longer cheap, but it remains a fuel of necessity. For millions of families, it represents convenience, accessibility, and the ability to buy in small quantities. LPG, while cheaper in the long run and better for health, still feels out of reach for many because of infrastructure gaps and upfront costs.

So, when you think about it, the question isn’t just “Which fuel is cheaper?” but rather “Which fuel can families actually access and afford today?” Until the system makes LPG truly available and affordable for all, kerosene, expensive as it is, will continue to survive in Nigerian kitchens and lanterns.

What about you? Does your household use kerosene, LPG, or both? What influences your choice, is it cost, convenience, or habit?

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