ABEOKUTA – Some residents of Abeokuta in Ogun state have opted for the use of firewood having decried the high cost of cooking gas and kerosene, which they said had inflicted much hardship on low-income earners.
Those who spoke with THE ENCOUNTER NEWS stated that the cost of obtaining the two sources of domestic energy for cooking had doubled in recent times.
They said firewood which is cheaper, cost effective, and always available, was the only way out.
Retailers of gas now refill the 12.5kg at N9, 500, as against the price of N5,400 while the 6kg cylinder now attracts N4, 800, as against the N2, 500.
Akeem Soyinka, a gas retailer at Ijemo said the increase was as a result of the exchange rate of the dollar to the Naira.
Soyinka called for the intervention of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Federal Government and expressed the fear that the price could go even higher if nothing was done.
Alhaja Moriliat Ajibade, a business woman said though the product is available in Abeokuta, she cannot afford it at such an exorbitant price.
“I opted for firewood long ago, I am a farmer too, I don’t even buy firewood, I pick them in the farm, no cost implication,” she said.
Mrs. Temitope Ajomale, a gas user, said that she refilled her 6kg cylinder at the rate of N4,200 in June, but inquired to buy in August and was told it was N4950.
“I have resorted to firewood as my next option. I wash my pots with potash and sand; its clean, it is also cost effective,” she said.
For Onome Edobor, a hairstylist, the current economy reality did not allow her to spent extravagantly on purchase of cooking gas, rather she prefers charcoal pot otherwise termed as ‘Kolo pot’.
“I cannot come and kill myself. My income as a hairdresser cannot augment the expenses on purchase of gas. But with N200 charcoal, I can cook for about two times without feeling the pain. It is also safer compared to the fear of gas linkage and dangers associated with using a gas cylinder,” the Delta-born artisan said.
Mr. Gafar Ridwan, a firewood merchant, told our reporter that his business was booming with high patronage since the beginning of the year.
“Most customers murmur and complain about the prices of gas and kerosene whenever they come to buy firewood,” Gafar said.
Double Compartment Pots To The Rescue
The continuous rise in the prices of goods and services is making most companies align their products to suit individuals’ new choice of standard of living.
A part of this innovation is the double compartment pots meant to prepare two dishes at the same time.
THE ENCOUNTER NEWS discovered that most women now buy these double compartment pots to reduce cooking gas consumption.
Mrs. Yemisi Idowu, a pepper seller at Omida market, said: “I have been thinking of a way to save my cooking gas. Most of these gas stations just fill in air in the cylinders. Before now, a 12 kg cylinder of cooking gas lasts two months and a half for me and it costs N11,000 but, presently, it hardly lasts up to a month and a half. When I discovered these double compartment pots, I quickly bought one. Now my cooking gas lasts for over three months.”
Tunde Gbadebo, a civil servant, said: “My wife has been complaining about the increasing prices of cooking gas. Even the prices of kerosene, charcoal and firewood are increasing everyday. Some people had even resorted to using sawdust to cook.
“When a friend told me about the double compartment pots, I gave it a trial. My wife has been testifying about its reduction of the quantity of cooking gas she uses monthly.”
Khadijat Majiyagbe, a 200-level student said: “My mom got me double compartment pots while I was resuming this semester because I always complained to her about the way my cooking gas gets exhausted and how the price of cooking gas is skyrocketing in my school.
“I use a 3kg gas cylinder and I use N3,050 to fill it. Sometimes I have to borrow my neighbour’s stove when I can’t afford to buy 1 kg.”
Mistura Hassan, a cooking wares seller in Kuto said: “There are various double compartment pots in the market.
“Some even have three compartments where you can cook soup, sauce and boil meat at the same time.
“Many women are coming for this double compartment pots. It is affecting the sale of single compartment pots though there is not much sale of pots because people are managing the ones they have.”
Data from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that the price of 12kg cylinder of cooking gas rose by 32.5 per cent to N9,824 in July from N7,413 in January this year.
Similarly, the prices of cooking gas cylinders has increased as 12.5 kg cylinder is now as high as N11,500.
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