HURIWA Slams Rising Cooking Gas Prices, Calls It Economic Violence Against Nigerians

By our Reporter

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed strong anger and concern over the sharp increase in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, which is now reportedly selling for as high as N2,000 per kilogram in several parts of the country.

The group said the situation has made cooking gas unaffordable for millions of Nigerians and has further worsened the already severe cost-of-living crisis facing households. It noted that in a country rich in natural resources, it is unacceptable that citizens are being pushed into conditions that threaten basic survival.
HURIWA stated that the rapid rise in cooking gas prices is not just an economic challenge but also a serious human rights issue. It warned that when essential household energy becomes unaffordable, it leads to hunger, malnutrition, illness, and preventable deaths, especially among vulnerable people. Families already struggling with rising food, transport, electricity, and healthcare costs are now being forced to make difficult choices between cooking and other basic needs.
The association argued that this development violates the spirit of Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution, particularly the right to life. It stressed that while government has a duty to protect citizens’ lives and welfare, the current situation of unchecked price increases is having the opposite effect.
HURIWA further stated that the right to life goes beyond protection from violence and also includes the state’s responsibility to ensure conditions that allow people to live dignified and sustainable lives. It warned that extreme economic hardship can lead to loss of life and deep social suffering.
The group also raised concern over the lack of effective regulatory action against profiteers it accused of exploiting citizens during economic hardship. It said responsible governments across the world use regulatory tools such as market controls, consumer protection systems, and anti-monopoly measures to prevent exploitation of essential goods.
HURIWA criticized what it described as government’s reliance on market forces while citizens continue to suffer increasing hardship. It called on authorities to urgently investigate the causes of the sharp rise in gas prices and take steps to stabilize the market.
It also urged regulators to identify and punish individuals and companies engaging in exploitative pricing, while recommending possible government interventions to reduce the burden on consumers.
The group warned that continued inaction could lead to wider social and environmental consequences, including increased use of firewood and charcoal, environmental damage, worsening health conditions, and deeper poverty.
HURIWA concluded that governance should be judged by how it improves citizens’ lives, insisting that economic policies that result in hunger, suffering, and avoidable deaths cannot be justified. It called on the government to actively protect Nigerians from economic exploitation and uphold their constitutional rights to life and dignity.
Signed:
Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko
National Coordinator
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)
June 5, 2026