By FRANCISCA ADIDI
SINCE President Tinubu’s administration announced the removal of the fuel subsidy, life has become more and more difficult for many Nigerians due to the spiraling cost of living. The resulting economic hardship is a bitter pill for Nigerian families to swallow.
The persistent hardship has affected every aspect of life, as the prices of everything—including cooking gas—have skyrocketed beyond the reach of the average person. Today, in some parts of the country, most people have resorted to using charcoal because the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), or cooking gas, is unaffordable. Kerosene, once a common alternative, is now also out of reach.
Similarly, the cost of charcoal has risen due to high demand, with some people switching to firewood.
The recent emergence of charcoal stoves in Nigerian markets has made them a must-have item in many homes, and demand has increased as they’ve become a necessity. Aside from individual purchases, some multi-purpose cooperative societies in Plateau State are buying charcoal stoves in bulk for their members and reselling them at discounted prices.
Some residents in Plateau State, like their counterparts elsewhere, have turned to charcoal and firewood to cut down their living costs. It’s clear that many people can no longer cope with the situation and are finding alternatives to ease the hardship.
Some residents of Jos and Bukuru who spoke with our correspondent complained that due to the incessant price increases, gas has become unaffordable for the average person.
Nigerians had earlier resorted to using cooking gas when they could no longer afford kerosene, which used to be a common fuel. Even the average person could afford to use gas when it was within their reach, but today, the reverse is the case.
Reasons for the use of charcoal
Our checks revealed that the new, modern charcoal stoves now in the market are a comfortable alternative for most homes because they’re faster and more economical than gas. However, as more people have rushed to buy them, the cost of charcoal has gradually increased due to high demand, causing some to switch to firewood.
Mrs. Jummai Amos, a resident of Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area, said, “I have stopped using cooking gas and now use firewood and charcoal, which are also not cheap but are more affordable.”
She explained, “In 2023, I used to buy 12.5 kg of cooking gas for between N12,000 and N13,000, but now it is sold for between N16,750 and N17,450.”
Mrs. Amos added that she couldn’t continue to spend so much on cooking gas alone “as if it is the only basic item to consume my budget. I also need to purchase other items to complete the cooking and for use in my home.”
“Therefore, as an alternative, I use charcoal and firewood side by side. Although they are not cheap either, they are more affordable and last longer than gas, “she said.
Another respondent, Mr. Cletus Kuchili, a civil servant residing in Jenta Adamu, Jos, said, “With the constant increase in gas prices, my wife and I have resolved to use a firewood or charcoal stove as an alternative to cooking gas, even though the prices of these items have also increased.” Mrs. Doris Yakubu confessed that she doesn’t know how to make a fire from charcoal, especially when she’s in a hurry to cook. “As such, cooking gas remains my only option, despite its high price. Thank God my family size is small. It is also for convenience,” she pointed out.
For Madam Do Good, a mother and resident of Jos, “The Nigerian situation has made me adjust to every kind of life I find myself in. We use gas for emergencies and warming soup only, and we mostly use a charcoal stove and firewood for major cooking,” she said. Why gas is the only option According to Mrs. Christabel Augustine, who is a local government staff, the increase in the price of cooking gas has dealt her a heavy blow because she lives on the fifth floor of an estate and, therefore, using gas is her only option.
However, she has devised a way to curb her spending on the commodity. “I use my cooking gas wisely. I make sure I get everything ready before I turn on my gas. I cook food that will last the whole day and only turn on the gas to warm my food before eating,” she said.
A respondent who pleaded anonymity complained, “The increase in the price of gas has negatively affected my business and the profit I make.” She disclosed that because her business is in a residential area, the use of charcoal stoves or firewood is prohibited. “The situation is a terrible one that needs urgent intervention. I spend so much on gas that I hardly make any reasonable profit from this business,” she lamented.
She appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the constant increases in the price of gas to provide some relief for businesses like hers that rely on it.
According to Mr. Appolos, president of a cooperative society in Jos, “The demand for charcoal stoves was very high from my members. We purchased a quantity, and people rushed to buy them because the prices of charcoal stoves are cheaper compared to cooking gas.” That turned out to be an extra income for the cooperative.
Blessing Audu, a student, said she uses an electric cooker but has to reconsider her choice of food whenever there is no electricity. “I have a small cooking gas cylinder, but I had to put it aside for now because of the price increase. Similarly, I cannot use charcoal because charcoal stove prices have skyrocketed too,” she said.
It is very unfortunate that people are experiencing such hardships in a country rich in gas, crude oil and other natural resources. Therefore, the Nigerian government should take action against desperate I individuals who increase I the prices of goods and | services for their own selfish ends.