Over 20 million Nigerian households roughly 70% of the population continue relying on firewood and charcoal for cooking due to crippling LPG price hikes and flawed distribution networks, stalling clean energy transition on December 31, 2025. Despite government subsidies and NMDPRA mandates, 12.5kg cylinder prices surged from ₦8,500 to ₦26,000 in 2025, pricing out low-income families amid 34% inflation.
Urban poor in Lagos slums and rural Ebonyi villages scavenge daily for fuelwood, facing health risks from smoke inhalation causing 128,000 annual deaths Africa's highest. Refill costs jumped 200% since 2023 deregulation, with black market cylinders rampant due to 40% depot storage losses and smuggling to Benin Republic.
Only 12 million cylinders circulate against 40 million needed, as NNPC/OVI imports favor exports while local blending plants idle at 20% capacity. NMDPRA's 2025 autogas push bypassed households, leaving women trekking 5km for firewood amid Umahi's Southeast infrastructure boasts.
Nigeria lags SDG7 targets, burning 50 million tonnes of biomass yearly equivalent to 25 million tons CO2 while $1.5bn LPG subsidies vanished into inefficiency. Stakeholders demand cylinder rollout subsidies, rural depots, and price caps as 2026 NRS reforms risk further hikes without targeted relief.