Customers groan as prices of cement surge in south-east

Prices of cement have increased significantly across five states in the south-east compared to what was obtainable in 2020.

This is according to a market survey conducted by NAN at various wholesale and retail shops in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.

The report showed that cement prices have increased by 67 percent in these states.

In Enugu, customers said a trailer load of Dangote cement with 600 bags, which sold at N1.5 million in 2020, was sold for N2.3 million in the first quarter of 2021.

The survey showed that a bag of Dangote cement in the state is sold at N3,900, Kogi Super cement goes for N3,600 while UNICEM and BUA are sold for N3,700.

In Abia, residents said cement is sold between N4,000 and N4,100 per 50kg bag.

The situation was not different in Anambra as Kenechukwu Okoye, a cement dealer, explained that a 50kg bag of cement was sold at N2,500 before the #EndSARS protest in 2020, but it subsequently rose to N3,000 — and that the price currently ranges between N4,000 and N4,100.

In Imo, the cost of cement is between N3,850 and N4300, depending on the brand.

NAN said at the Building Materials Market in Naze, Owerri north LGA of Imo, Dangote cement is sold at N4,000 per bag while BUA and UNICEM are sold for N3,900.

The survey said the prices of cement, rods of various sizes, corrugated roofing sheets and other building materials and accessories have been on the increase since January in Ebonyi.

The news agency said Dangote and BUA cement brands, which sold at N2,500 in December 2020, are now sold between N4000 and N4500 in Ebonyi, while UNICEM which sold at N2,300 within the same period has gone up to between N4,000 and N4,300.

In an interview with NAN, Jerry Onwe, an economic activist, urged the federal and state governments to revive moribund cement factories across the states to meet the increasing demands of cement in Nigeria.