President Bola Tinubu has instructed Nigerian cement companies to roll back the recent increase in cement prices. The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, revealed this directive on Thursday after inspecting the BUA cement factory in Sokoto State.
The new order from the president mandates all cement manufacturers to uphold the previous price, aiming to alleviate the economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
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“I want to encourage them to abide by the directive of Mr. President so that we can achieve the massive housing programme and the renewed hope agenda of concrete roads set by the President,” he was quoted by the Daily Trust.
He continued: “When the chairman of the company visited Mr. President last week, he assured me that the 5th line would soon commence operation, and with my visit here, I can confirm that the 5th line, though waiting to be commissioned, has already commenced operation.”
He, however, commended the management of the company for ensuring cleanliness within the entire premises of the company.
Accompanied by the Senate committee chairman on housing, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, the Minister said the federal government was embarking on 372 kilometres of dual carriageway from Zaria to Sokoto State.
“I am here to see things for myself, as you are aware, the federal government is currently embarking on 372 dual kilometers of road of which the first phase will be done with asphalt and the second phase will be done with concrete.
“If you calculate the 372 kilometers, because it is dual carriage way into two, it will give us a total of 744 kilometers.
“The second 372 kilometers will be conducted with pure concrete, in line with the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.”
A market survey done by SaharaReporters earlier this month revealed that cement was sold nationwide for between N8,500 and N9,200.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the price is N9000. In Sokoto, BUA cement is sold for N8,650, and Dangote is N9200.
In Ilorin, the price of BUA cement is N8,700, and in Dangote, it is N9,000.
Last week, cement manufacturers spelled out the conditions that the Nigerian government must fulfil before reducing a 50-kg bag of cement to N7,000 and N8,000 at a retail price.
