Cement manufacturers in Nigeria have agreed to reduce the price of a 50kg bag of cement to a range between N7,000 and N8,000, depending on the location nationwide. This decision was reached during a meeting between the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and leading cement manufacturers, including Dangote Plc, BUA Plc, and Lafarge Plc.
The meeting was prompted by the soaring price of cement, which had reached approximately N13,000 in several retail stores in the Federal Capital Territory and Enugu, attributed to factors such as inflation, smuggling, bad roads, high energy costs, and the Forex crisis.
The manufacturers stated that the price reduction would be contingent on the fulfillment of certain government interventions to address critical challenges in the industry. The new price range of N7,000 to N8,000 is seen as an effort to make cement more affordable for consumers and align with the economic objectives of the current administration.
Umahi, reading the communique after the meeting, emphasized that the high cost of cement in the market was abnormal and detrimental to economic prosperity. The government advised manufacturers to establish a price monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance with the agreed-upon prices.
This move is expected to provide relief to consumers and contribute to the government’s efforts to address inflationary pressures and make essential construction materials more accessible to the public.
