As the price of cooking gas known as Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) continues to rise in Nigeria, some citizens have resorted to using firewood and electric stoves, popularly known as hot plates, as an alternative.
In Anambra, Sahara Reporters’ findings showed that 1kg of cooking gas sells between N900 and N1,100 in Awka, the capital and many other parts of the state.
A resident, who identified herself as Mrs. Happiness, said she used firewood and an electric hot plate as an alternative as she found it challenging to buy gas because of the high price.
“The last time I bought gas was in the last two weeks, it was N950. I cook always because I have children. So, I don’t have money to buy gas at such a high price.
“I have an electric hot plate but I also buy firewood. Any time there is no light, I use firewood to cook. It saves the gas for me.”
Also, another resident, Mrs Rita, said she did not have an electric hot plate, but “I have been cooking with firewood because buying gas at N1000 per 1kg is not funny for me.”
The situation is the same in Bauchi state.
A check by the Daily Post showed that charcoal and firewood are now returning to urban areas.
Residents blamed the Federal Government for the high cost of cooking gas, which they said is out of the ordinary person’s reach.
Rauf Oyewole, a resident in Gwallameji, said: “The earlier the government addresses the price of cooking gas, the better for our environment. The impact will be grievous to both animals and human beings.
“Later on, the same government will have to take foreign loans to fight the effects of climate change.
“This practice is worsening desertification in semi-arid areas like Bauchi State. Most of the residents who are low-income earners are already resulting in the felling of trees”
Another resident, Olaide Saheed, described the hike in the cost of cooking gas as alarming.
“I’m not the only one affected but all the people around me. It’s a serious and pathetic situation for the common man.
“I mean, this is something we were buying N800, and at a point in time, it went down to N780, and now it’s N1,000.
“Honestly speaking, I have decided to buy a charcoal cooking pot to start using charcoal for all the cooking in my house.
“We are abandoning cooking gas until the price goes down again. Thank God I have an electric cooker at home, too. Anytime there is a power supply, we’ll use that.”
