Enugu residents are abandoning their kerosene stoves in favour of more affordable charcoal stoves as kerosene prices skyrocket to between N1,350 and N1,600 per litre.
A market survey conducted on Tuesday in Enugu revealed that many people now prefer using charcoal for cooking due to its relatively lower cost.
Grace Umeh, a charcoal seller at Garki Market, reported that despite the price of charcoal increasing from N5,000 to N8,000 per sack, demand has continued to grow.
Ms. Umeh explained that the rising patronage is largely because an average family of five can consume up to 20 litres of kerosene a month for cooking, making charcoal a more economical option.
“So, the family spends over N20,000 on kerosene in a month. On the other hand, a bag of charcoal will last for two months, no matter the pressure of use, for the same size of family,’’ she said.
Another seller at Mayor Market, Oby Okafor, said that most families were buying the commodity in large quantities due to the high cost of kerosene and other energy sources.
“We have continued to experience good and profitable business for some time now in this charcoal business,” Ms Okafor said.
Christiana Ozor, a charcoal dealer at Achara Layout, reported selling over two bags of charcoal daily due to increased demand.
Some buyers noted that using charcoal for cooking has significantly reduced their expenses.
Gilbert Nnamdi, a father of four, shared that a friend introduced him to a new charcoal stove, which has helped him cut down on kerosene costs.
“With just N200 worth of charcoal, my wife can cook a pot of soup and a pot of rice for the family, regardless of the quantity. This new charcoal stove ignites quickly and doesn’t produce smoke while cooking,” he said.
Another charcoal user, who preferred to remain anonymous, mentioned that she has been using charcoal since kerosene prices surged.
“I stopped using kerosene when the price increased to N900 and because I am afraid of using cooking gas, I quickly opted for charcoal as a means of energy cooking source,” she said.
Food vendors are also turning to charcoal, as they can no longer afford the high prices of kerosene and cooking gas.
Ijeoma Dim, a restaurant owner, noted that the rising costs of kerosene and cooking gas have suddenly made charcoal a popular alternative.
Ofor Anyawu added that charcoal sellers are now experiencing brisk business due to the price increases of other cooking fuels.
Mr. Anyawu urged the government to ensure that all cooking energy sources are affordable and accessible for the masses, especially given the country’s economic challenges.
NAN
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