Worried over the persistent rise in the price of cooking gas which has increased by over 300% in the last few months, thereby causing incredible hardship to the average Nigerian household, the House of Representatives has moved to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
The House mandated its Committee on Gas Resources to meet the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Timipriye Sylva, to find a solution to the hike in the price of Liquified Natural Gas.
The lawmakers also asked the executive to develop effective mechanisms and explore different mitigation options to cushion the effect of persistent rising in the price of cooking on gas on the common citizens.
These resolutions were reached following a motion moved by Rasheed Olalekan (APC, Osun) on Thursday during plenary.
According to Mr Olalekan, the price of cooking gas has almost increased by 300% in the past months despite Nigeria having one of the largest gas reserves in the world.
He noted that gas is an essential commodity used by households, therefore, the government should intervene. He noted that Nigerians are already faced with several challenges and do not need more.
Mr Olalekan noted further that prolonged hike in price could affect Nigerians during the festive period, adding that with the increased unaffordability of such basic necessity as gas Nigerians could further be plunged into untold hardship.
“A prolonged increase in the prices of essential items especially during the Yuletide season could have grave social consequences as it could worsen the economic hardship, thus forcing people into resorting to crime and other vices in order to survive,” Mr Olalekan added.
This hike in the price of cooking gas has caused many to resort to using very crude and unhealthy alternative means of cooking such as firewood.
Recently, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari announced that the government is working to increase supply, in a bid to force down the price of gas.
The motion was adopted after the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who presided over the session, put it to vote.
The price of a 12KG cylinder of gas currently sells at N9,000. The price of this product has been steadily increasing in the past few months. As at April 2021, the cost of same cylinder of gas sold for N3,000. Also a kilogram of gas which was initially sold for N300 is now sold within the range of N700 to N850.