Gas cookers overtake charcoal, kerosene stoves in Kano

In the past, cooking on gas was seen as an exclusive privilege of the elite and the rich. The low income earner could only afford firewood, charcoal or kerosene for cooking. However, due to the hike in the prices of kerosene and charcoal, low income earners have resorted to using the gas cooker for domestic use. This is not because they have also become rich, but because gas is now a cheaper source of energy.

This development has led to the expansion of cooking gas business, with many shops opened across the nooks and crannies of Kano city and at filling stations.

Malam Yakubu Abdallah, a low income earner, said the high cost of kerosene and charcoal forced him to go for the gas cooker. “I have made a comparison between charcoal and the gas cooker and realised that it is cheaper, easier and faster to use the gas cooker than charcoal or kerosene. A bag of charcoal is sold at N1, 800, and if one adds the cost of transportation and other miscellaneous expenses, it will amount to N2000. And for the size of my family, this one bag will take only five days. But when I decided to go for gas, I realised that after refilling the two minicylinders for N2, 200, it took more than two weeks before the gas was exhausted. And we are a family of 13. We also boil the water we use for bathing on the gas. So the difference is very clear - gas is cheaper than charcoal and kerosene,” he said.

Abdallah further added that the use of gas is now not a matter of affluence but of ease and convenience, saying only ignorance would stop a person from using the gas cooker at this time.

Daily Trust on Sunday further gathered that due to the high cost of firewood, families and friends of brides and bridegrooms have resorted to cooking on gas during marriage ceremonies.

“In a just concluded wedding ceremony we resorted to using the gas cooker to prepare food because of the high cost of firewood. Gas is cheaper and more convenient to use. We didn’t have to sit under the sun and inhale all the smoke that would have been coming out of a firewood,’’ said Binta Adamu, a housewife in Hotoro quarters.

Those using the gas cooker for the first time are thrilled by its ease and fastness. They vowed not to revert to kerosene or firewood even if the prices go down in the future.

Users of kerosene also explained that they would not continue with it because of its high cost and low quality. They noted that despite its high cost, it is sometimes adulterated and sold. “Sometimes after buying the kerosene, one would end up looking for an alternative because it has been adulterated, thus making it hard for the user. As you light it, the threads burn to ashes,” said Sumayya Ibrahim, a housewife in Sani Mai Nagge quarters in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State.

Anas Baba, who is a dealer at the Galadima gas market, said the business was booming because gas cooker is now cheaper than other sources of energy. He said that in the past, people were afraid to use gas because they were made to believe that it was dangerous and could cause damages and even death. But he noted that due to more awareness, people were becoming less scared. He further said that before now, only foreigners, hotels and school laboratories bought gas cylinders for cooking.

“Now, people from almost all the 44 local government areas of Kano State use gas for their domestic cooking because their fear has reduced drastically.

“If you buy N1000 kerosene and gas at the same price, the kerosene will finish before the gas. In addition to this, with gas the problem of smoke or spending a long time cooking is addressed.”

According to him, a 12kg cylinder sells at N10,500, 5kg sell at N6000 and 3kg is N4000. To refill a 50kg cylinder you need N15, 000, 25kg goes for N7, 500, and the least, which is 3kg, is refilled at N1, 100. A bag of charcoal, on the other hand, is sold at N1, 800.

He further revealed that gas is more affordable because even with N500 one could buy gas, unlike in the past when one was made to fully refill it. He added that on a daily basis, people troop to the market to buy gas cylinders and fill them.

“Now, you hardly see people coming to sell their gas cookers. People only come to either refill or buy new cylinders. We sell both used and new ones. We also repair,” he said.

Confirming that cooking gas business has become very lucrative, the manager of Oando Kofar Nassarawa filling station, Alhaji Alpha Abdullahi, said, “As you can see, we usually display 40 cylinders every morning, but before evening they are all sold out. People have now realised how cheap and convenient the cooking gas is,” he said.