As Christmas approaches, many Nigerians are gearing up to travel back to their respective states or visit loved ones across various Nigerian states to celebrate the holiday season.

Christmas is a time for celebration, and meals like jollof rice, chicken, salad, and moin-moin are essential parts of the season.

However, the rising cost of living and increasing gas prices have made holiday cooking more expensive in some Nigerian states.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the cost of refilling cooking gas cylinders has gone up significantly in the past year.

The price of a 5kg cylinder increased by 51.58% between October 2023 and October 2024. A 12.5kg cylinder saw an even larger rise, going up by 58.68% in the same period.

Here are the 10 most expensive Nigerian states to spend Christmas based on the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas cylinder:

Rivers State – N17,895.00
Rivers has the highest gas prices, with residents paying N17,895.00 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder. This makes it the most expensive state for holiday cooking.

Osun State – N17,739.06
Osun follows closely, with an average price of N17,739.06. Cooking gas costs here add significantly to holiday expenses.

Benue State – N17,731.25
In Benue, refilling a 12.5kg cylinder costs about N17,731.25. The state also has high prices for smaller gas cylinders, making cooking more expensive for many families.

Cross River State – N17,563.89
Cross River residents pay N17,563.89 for a 12.5kg refill. This adds to the cost of celebrating in a state known for its lively Christmas events.

Bauchi State – N17,500.00
Bauchi is the most expensive northern state on this list, with gas prices at N17,500.00.

Sokoto State – N17,480.00
In Sokoto, the cost of a 12.5kg cylinder is N17,480.00. This makes it one of the priciest states for holiday preparations.

Ogun State – N17,392.86
Ogun residents pay about N17,392.86 for a 12.5kg gas refill, making cooking during Christmas costly in this South-Western state.

Imo State – N17,371.91
Imo has an average gas price of N17,371.91 for a 12.5kg refill. This adds to the expenses for families hosting Christmas gatherings.

Edo State – N17,359.38
In Edo, residents pay N17,359.38 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder. This makes holiday cooking more expensive in this South-South state.

Ebonyi State – N17,196.43
Ebonyi rounds out the list, with residents spending N17,196.43 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder.