By Elizabeth Bamidele
The price of cooking gas which has continued to hit the roof currently has made it very difficult for users to afford.
It would be recalled that this medium had earlier reported that Kwarans have resorted to alternative means of cooking by using sawdust and charcoal.
As the demand of charcoal increases by the users as substitute for gas, its price has kept increasing, as users, sellers groaned in the state, Pilot Business gathered.
Our reporter that moved around to interview both users and sellers within Ilorin metropolis, discovered that, the price has gradually increased to N2,200 per bag, Kwarans make use of charcoal.
It was gathered that a bag of charcoal which was N1,000, before has increased to N1,300,N1500 and now N2,200.
One of the charcoal dealers who spoke with Pilot Business, Mrs. Ayodele Titilayo said the demand for charcoal is gradually increasing as majority are using it instead of gas and kerosene.
“Over 50% of Kwara resorted in charcoal for cooking. Even the food vendors who use gas now make the highest demand of the commodity.
“Sun shine on charcoal business as the gas prices go higher. It was 1000 Naira per sack, later increased to 1,200,1,300,1,500 currently N2,200 per sack.”
Given more reasons for sudden change in price, Titilayo said that, “apart from increase in demand of the commodity, lack of trees in the forest and rain are responsible for the gradual increase in price.”
Another seller in Adewole Area, Mrs. Yemisi Ayinla said that, “well meaning people will park their big cars to purchase bags of charcoal. They are not going to sell it, just for cooking with the lamentations that their children, house help waste their gas and decided to embark on charcoal as the means of cooking.
“Some other people who don’t have power to purchase a sack of charcoal go for half sack.”
One of the users, Fadilat Ismaila lamented that, she abandoned her gas because of the price adding that” the charcoal she is managing for cooking is increasing in price gradually when the sellers discovered that we are patronizing them.”
A food vendor in Agbooba cried out, “I’m afraid that the price might increase as every product now hiding under increase in dollars. I have since abandoned cooking gas, I replaced it with sacks of charcoal.’”
