Despite promises of cleaner, safer cooking fuel, only about 19–23% of Nigerian households use LPG (cooking gas), according to the latest survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) . In contrast, around 67.8% of homes still use firewood, while 22% use charcoal, and many combine both depending on availability .
This huge gap between policy goals and actual energy habits raises a pressing question: "Why is gas not yet the new normal in Nigerian kitchens—even as the world moves toward cleaner cooking?"
Let's Breaking Down The Numbers
The NBS 2024 Residential Energy Demand Survey (NREDSS) covers states across Nigeria and reveals that only one in five households use LPG, and most spend about ₦10,240 per month on it . Meanwhile, firewood remains the most used source of cooking and heating , with more than two-thirds of households relying on it. Charcoal is used by one in five homes.
High-class households show higher gas usage, about 50% in cities within South West Nigeria, but rural households still depend on wood and charcoal at rates above 80% .
Why Do So Many Still Use Firewood?
Most Nigerians cooking with firewood or charcoal point to cost. LPG requires a cylinder, regulator, hose, and burner—equipment that can cost between ₦30,000 and ₦50,000. Also, refilling a full 12.5kg often costs over ₦11,000, which many low-income families cannot afford .
In many villages, communities across Nigeria, gas refill shops, gas plants are rare. Firewood, on the other hand, is gathered or sold cheaply, even if burning it for long-term use causes health issues like respiratory disease and deforestation, a concerning reality with over 98,000 women dying annually from indoor air pollution in Nigeria alone .
Let's take a look at the federal government policy aims vs on-ground reality -
It was probably intended with good will in mind, as the Nigeria National Clean Cooking Policy was created to increase LPG usage to 54% by 2030, with electric stoves covering another 20% . However, policymakers face challenges such as weak regulation, poor infrastructure, and limited financial support are undermining adoption, especially in poorer areas.
Some experts note that until gas becomes affordable, accessible, and trusted, rural and low-income households will continue turning to free or cheaper biomass fuels.
Is LPG the Future? Yes - But Not Yet
Recent published trends indicate slow progress: Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt reflect rising LPG adoption, especially among middle-class families and small businesses. Mobile gas delivery and pay-as-you-cook models are emerging in many neighborhoods.
But to reach national goals, the government must aggressively scale up local gas production, expand distribution networks, offer subsidies or micro-loans for LPG kit acquisition, and strengthen regulatory.
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Final Thoughts
Gas has the potential to become the new standard in Nigerian kitchens, providing cleaner, healthier, and faster cooking. Yet today, over two-thirds of Nigerians still rely on firewood, and one in five
still uses charcoal. Until barriers like cost, access