Nigeria Faces Cooking Gas Crisis Amid Climate Challenges

The price of cooking gas in Nigeria has surged to 2,000 Naira per kilogram, up from 1,200 Naira earlier this year, leading many low-income households to abandon gas in favor of charcoal and firewood. This shift has significant health implications and has resulted in a boom in the charcoal business, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Between January and September 2025, Nigeria reportedly exported wood charcoal worth 243 billion Naira, with local consumption remaining high. The country has lost approximately 1.14 million hectares of tree cover from 2001 to 2021, primarily due to charcoal production.

This deforestation undermines Nigeria's climate action commitments, including a pledge made at COP26 to end deforestation by 2030. The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) has called for urgent policy action to stabilize cooking gas prices and address the climate challenges facing Nigeria, as the effects of climate change continue to intensify.