Abuja: Rising cooking gas and kerosene prices have driven a massive surge in charcoal and firewood sales as millions of households seek affordable energy alternatives. Across markets in cities and rural communities alike, firewood and charcoal traders are witnessing a surge in demand unlike anything they have experienced in recent years.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the climbing price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), reaching beyond N2,000 per kilogramme in many parts of the country, has led families, roadside food vendors, and small restaurants to increasingly turn to traditional fuels as a cheaper alternative for daily cooking. For traders, this trend has translated into brisk business and growing profits. For consumers, however, it reflects the difficult choices being made amid rising living costs and shrinking household incomes.
Mrs. Roseline Achibong, a charcoal trader in Bwari, noted her stocks are moving faster than ever before. She buys a bag of charcoal for N6,500 to N7,000 and sells it to consumers for N8,500. Previously, consumers preferred gas because it was cleaner and more convenient. Now, many customers patronize her daily because they can no longer afford to refill their gas cylinders.
In Dutse, Mrs. Amina Shuaibu, another charcoal trader, expressed how the increased sales have positively impacted her ability to care for her family. She remarked in Pidgin English how business has improved, allowing her to better provide for her four children.
Food vendors, such as Mr. Rejoice Ona at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, have also been affected by the escalating cost of gas, which has increased their operating expenses. Switching back to charcoal has helped them reduce daily cooking costs, allowing them to avoid raising food prices and potentially losing customers.
The same scenario is unfolding in countless homes where families are carefully managing limited budgets. Mrs. Adedoyin Fashina, a resident of Dei-Dei, said that a bag of charcoal or a bundle of firewood offers a more affordable way to prepare meals compared to purchasing cooking gas. The increased demand for charcoal has boosted activities along the supply chain, from rural producers to urban transporters and wholesalers.
While traders celebrate the boom, experts warn that the trend highlights a deeper challenge facing Nigeria’s clean energy ambitions. Dr. Aliyu Ilias, a development expert, expressed frustration over the sharp increase in gas prices, which has become a major burden for many families. He urged the Federal Government to pay closer attention to essential commodities affecting daily lives and consider measures to ensure adequate availability of cooking gas before focusing on exports.
Mr. Auwal Musa, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), recommended that the government prioritize policies encouraging increased domestic production and utilization of gas to reduce dependence on imports. He urged regulatory agencies to monitor the LPG market closely to prevent price manipulation and support clean energy initiatives for low-income households.
The bustling trade in firewood and charcoal serves as a stark reminder that while cleaner energy remains the goal, affordability ultimately determines the choices many Nigerians make. Until cleaner cooking fuels become financially accessible, firewood and charcoal traders are likely to remain key beneficiaries of Nigeria’s growing energy affordability crisis.