‘Greed, Not Economics’: Man’s Viral Post Sparks Debate Over Cooking Gas Prices in Nigeria

A Nigerian man has ignited a wave of online reactions after accusing cooking gas sellers of exploiting customers under the guise of market conditions.

The man, identified as Osas on X (formerly Twitter), claimed that many gas dealers in Nigeria are quick to raise prices when costs increase but slow to reduce them when prices fall.

According to Osas, the inconsistency has little to do with genuine economic factors and more to do with pure greed.

He wrote:

“When the price of gas increases from ₦1,000 to ₦1,500, they’ll say, ‘I must sell my old stock at the new rate so I can restock.’ But when it drops from ₦1,000 to ₦500, the same people say, ‘I can’t reduce my price; I bought my old stock at a higher rate.’ Let’s be honest—it’s not economics, it’s greed.”

His post quickly went viral, drawing hundreds of comments from frustrated Nigerians who shared similar experiences.

Some users supported his view, accusing business owners of exploiting economic uncertainty to maximize profit. A user, Bambz, commented:

“There’s one Alfa in my area that still sells at ₦1,200 per kg despite pressure to increase. Many others are just taking advantage of the situation.”

Others, however, defended the gas sellers, saying operating costs and market instability often force businesses to maintain high prices.

Another user, O.S.A, explained:

“That’s not how business works. Expenses are high across the board. Even if you sell cheap, restocking and transport costs make it tough to survive.”

The debate mirrors the frustration of millions of Nigerians struggling to cope with rising living costs, as cooking gas remains one of the most unpredictable household commodities.