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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed concern over the continued rise in cooking gas prices across the country, warning that the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) reaching ₦2,000 per kilogram in some locations is worsening the hardship faced by millions of Nigerians.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group described the development as a reflection of weak market regulation and government inaction. HURIWA argued that cooking gas, which remains a basic household necessity, is gradually becoming unaffordable for ordinary Nigerians already battling high food prices, rising transport fares and increasing electricity costs.
The organisation warned that many families are now being forced to make difficult choices between purchasing cooking gas and meeting other essential needs. It added that the rising cost of LPG is no longer merely an economic issue but one that directly affects the welfare and living conditions of citizens.
According to HURIWA, allowing the price of a critical household energy source to rise unchecked could deepen energy poverty and expose vulnerable households to greater hardship. The group maintained that access to affordable cooking fuel should be treated as a matter of public interest, especially at a time when many Nigerians are struggling to cope with inflation.
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The association also criticised what it described as inadequate oversight of the energy market, calling on the Federal Government and relevant regulators to investigate the factors driving the latest surge in prices. It urged authorities to identify and sanction operators engaging in exploitative practices while implementing measures capable of stabilising the LPG market.
HURIWA further warned that if cooking gas continues to move beyond the reach of average households, more Nigerians may resort to firewood and charcoal for cooking. It noted that such a shift could increase deforestation, worsen environmental degradation and expose families to health risks associated with smoke inhalation.
The group therefore called for urgent intervention to protect consumers from what it described as excessive pricing, insisting that governance should ultimately be measured by its impact on the welfare of citizens and the affordability of essential goods and services.
