Economy
MANY residents of Delta say the persistent increases in prices of cooking gas are forcing them to reduce usage in order to manage household cooking energy needs on a daily basis.
They said the cost of refilling 12kg gas cylinders had become increasingly difficult due to financial pressure.
Some of the residents who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Asaba, said, the situation was affecting their purchasing power.
Mrs Agnes Outdoor, a civil servant said: ”the development is getting worse for families, and many of us are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of cooking gas. ”
Accordin tto her, she rations her cooking gas usage by reserving it only for essential meals in order to make limited refills last longer than before.
For Mrs Grace Eze, a trader, ”I have shifted from refilling 12. 5kg cylinders to smaller 2kg, as it is more affordable and easier for me to manage under this current economic conditions.”
According to Mr Philip Imoni, a commercial bus driver, I now buy in smaller quantities because it is the only way I can cope with the constant price increases.
NAN reports that many other respondents interviewed said they only purchase cooking gas when it was absolutely necessary, avoiding regular refills and adjusting their cooking habits to reduce overall household expenditure.
They noted that firewood was also becoming increasingly costly and less sustainable, leaving families with limited and less efficient cooking options.
Mrs Udoka Nduka, a petty trader said: “we still go back to firewood when the gas finishes, even though it is not convenient and sometimes also expensive.
Meanwhile, domestic gas dealers said they were also experiencing the impact of rising prices, as reduced patronage and shrinking demand continue to affect their daily sales.
The Chairman of Ika Liquefied Petroleum Gas Dealers Association in Delta, Mr Eze Nnyeka, said that they currently purchased cooking gas at N2,000 per unit and sold at approximately N2,200, leaving them with very slim profit margins.
“We are operating with very small margins, and after expenses, there is almost nothing left to sustain the business,” a gas retailer said.
Nnyeka also said that customers patronage had had reduced significantly, as many households now buy small quantity of.
According to dealers, sales of 12. 5kg cylinders have declined sharply, as more customers now opt for smaller refills.
He also disclosed that the cost of setting up and maintaining a gas retail business had increased significantly compared to previous years.
“Before now, about N1 million can comfortably set up this business, but today it requires at least N5 million to start and sustain operations,” he said.
Nnyeka said that continued increases in cooking gas prices could worsen energy poverty and slow the adoption of cleaner cooking fuel alternatives across the country. (NAN)
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Tags: Cooking gas price hike Delta Residents