By Josephine Agbonkhese & Chris Onuoha

Lately, there has been an upsurge in calls for a more eco-friendly approach to everyday human activities, both from world leaders, non-governmental organisations, experts and the Catholic Pope, who has remained at the forefront of this campaign—never hesitating to leave a word or two about it wherever he travels to.

Conferences too, like the United Nations annual Climate Change Conference and many others, have led the campaign.

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And then, as Woman’s Own has observed lately, there’s been a dip in the use of Dual Purpose Kerosene, DPK, (also known as kerosene) for cooking in most households in the country, and an increased switch to Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG (also known as cooking gas).

In fact, from 250,000 metric tonnes consumption recorded in 2014, Nigeria’s LNG consumption is set to hit 500,000 metric tonnes by year end. This would be a record of about 42.9 per cent rise in market size against 350,000 metric tonnes recorded in 2015.

Gas is more affordable than kerosene—homemakers

“My sister, gas is cheaper and better. I started using it early this year after my daughter advised me to try it as she had started using it in school. I use my 12.5kg which costs about N3500 for more than a month. 25 litres of kerosene cost higher (you hardly even get an official price) and you will use it up in less than a month under the same condition. Not to talk of the fact that it burns faster and also makes the kitchen smell awful, with black smoke everywhere,” Benin-based Mrs Edosa, a small-scale trader, told Woman’s Own.

Funny enough, Edosa had used kerosene all her life and was one of those women who swore never to have anything to do with cooking gas.

Speaking on anonymity for fear of her landlord, another home-maker based in Lagos was quick to remind us that harsh times, such as the current economic recession, call for more economical alternatives.

“If you compare the time it takes kerosene to get the food done and the amount of money you spend on detergent and hard sponge to clean the back of your cooking utensils, you will know that gas is cheaper. But unfortunately, due to ignorance, my landlord will refund any tenant he catches using cooking gas. Anyway, I use it secretly.

Bisola, a young mother, also defended her recent switch to cooking gas.

“Gas refill, I have discovered, is cheaper than kerosene in terms of energy output per naira. It’s more decent in cooking as it doesn’t “black” your utensils. And no need for struggling to get “that blue flame” and turning the hot kerosene burner endlessly.

The various advocacies for eco-friendlier lifestyle would naturally want to make anyone jump into the conclusion that more people are becoming receptive to the global call even though grassroots awareness on the advantages of cooking gas over kerosene has been quite low and almost non-existent. Investigations carried out by Woman’s Own however reveals more.

Price, availability of kerosene

With the current pump price of kerosene now hovering at N200 per litre, the product is now three times more expensive than cooking gas which sells between N3,000 and N3,500 for a 12.5kg cylinder. Making a gas equivalent of one litre less than N120, compared to kerosene, which is above N200 per litre.

Apart from price factor, some kerosene marketers told Woman’s Own that the product is still relatively scarce.

“We have not got supplies from our main source for over eight months and I am not sure when supplies can reach us. However, I use gas in my house which my wife buys at the rate of N3, 500 for 12.5kg; but I still prefer it because it is easier and neater to manage,” Clement Agbaso, a staff with one of the major suppliers at Apapa tank farm in Lagos, said.

Corroborating Agbaso’s views, a supervisor with Forte oil Filling Station on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, said the last time he had kerosene supply in his station was in February.

“We have been selling only petrol and diesel oil. Unfortunately, I use kerosene in my house because my wife is afraid of using gas which she finds inflammable and believes it could be dangerous since we have little children in the house. Since kerosene is now irregular and higher in price, anyway, she now alternates the kerosene stove with a local charcoal model for cooking.”

The great irony

Although LNG is adjudged a safe, non-toxic, non-corrosive, environmentally-friendly fuel—being the cleanest burning fossil fuel used throughout the world to reduce carbon dioxide and sulphur emissions, the Federal Government of Nigeria has heavily promoted the use of kerosene through subsidy over the years.

In 2011 for example, it launched the failed Kero Direct’ Initiative, KDI, and only recently, that was replaced with the Kero Correct’ Initiative, KCI, designed to bring down the retail price of household kerosene by cutting off middlemen, so that the product is sold to consumers at the regulated price of N50 per litre. In 2015 alone, the Federal Government spent an estimated $1bn on kerosene subsidy.

The consequence of this regulation for many years, among other things, had been the perception of cooking gas as a middle and upper class delight.

Not until the economic recession which has ‘devotedly’ continued to triple the prices of commodities in the market, did many households begin to review their lifestyle choices by opting for the most economical and affordable items. One of such is the switch from kerosene to cooking gas which was erroneously hitherto viewed as the exclusive preserve of the rich.

Gas cylinders, accessories

The switch hasn’t however been quite easy for many due to the cost of gas cylinders, stoves and accessories. A new 12.5kg cylinder, for example, costs around N10,000.

A hint by Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, while still serving as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, last September, revealed that the corporation was planning to commence the distribution of free gas cylinders to all households in Nigeria, as a strategy towards phasing out the use of kerosene as domestic cooking fuel.

According to Kachikwu, the distribution was designed to commence in 2016 so that by the end of year (which is only 23 days away) most of the households in Nigeria would have obtained free gas cylinders in preparation for the transition from kerosene to gas.

He also reportedly said the corporation would boost gas supply in the country by compelling its joint venture partners in the upstream sector of the oil industry to ensure regular supply of gas to fuel retail outlets so that consumers can refill their cylinders with ease.  Not much has been heard about  the entire plan from the corporation since then, even though Kachikwu now serves as Chairman of its Board.