Operators seek government’s intervention over high cement cost

Towards making home ownership more accessible, operators in the building sector value chain have appealed to the Federal government to intervene over the persistent increase in the price of cement.

Cement is a critical ingredient for housing construction in Nigeria, as it determines, in no small measure, the number of houses that could be constructed over time. It performs a fundamental role in constructing foundations, floors, walls, and other structural elements, providing strength, durability, and stability.

The potency of cement is essentially hinged on its ability to bind aggregates such as sand, gravel, and others together when mixed with water, thus making it an essential component for housing construction.

However, over the years, the construction industry in Nigeria has faced challenges, as cement prices have surged to unprecedented levels. Between December 2023 and November 2024, the price of a 50kg bag of cement sold for an average of N5,000 and N8,000 in the open market.

As of April 2025, the average retail price per 50kg bag of cement ranges between N10,000 and N10,500, depending on locations and the brand.

The price of cement had in the recent past surged to N15,000 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Lagos and other Nigerian cities before stabilising between N9,500 and N10,500 per 50kg, especially for one of the leading cement manufacturers. Other brands, such as BUA, Lafarge Cement, sell at a slightly different price in the building materials market.

The cement manufacturers attributed the price increase to rising production costs triggered by inflation and transportation costs, high cost of labour, frequent disruptions in gas supplies, and high cost of maintenance for equipment.

Block manufacturers under the aegis of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON) recently called on the Federal Government to intervene with practical and urgent measures to stabilise the surge in cement price and prevent a looming construction crisis.

NABMON President, Adesegun Banjoko, lamented over the continued inaction on the part of the government regarding the persistent rise in cement prices—a trend that has ripple effects across the construction sector, housing delivery, and public infrastructure projects.

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Adesegun said, “We are waiting for that pragmatic step from the government on this issue of cement prices. Just as we’ve seen conscious and deliberate efforts to stabilise the Naira and petroleum prices, similar intervention is urgently needed in the cement sector.”

Expressing worries over the development, a builder based in Lagos, Mr Ebuka Okoro, said, “It will be ideal if the price of cement can be N5,000 per 50kg. This will encourage more investors and more people to build and bridge the huge housing deficit in the country.

“The usual complaints by the producers for hikes in the price are the cost of diesel and other industrial fuels, which they say increased significantly, impacting production costs. They also attributed the increase to frequent disruptions in gas supplies, which have affected cement production.”

A Lagos-based cement seller, Michael Adeyemi, lamented that the price increase has had a devastating impact on builders and contractors, with many struggling to manage their budgets.

According to him, the high price of cement will undoubtedly affect the buying power of individuals and businesses looking to buy homes or engage in other construction projects.”

Adeyemi said the government need to address the issues contributing to unstable prices, especially high maintenance costs due to heavy-duty machinery and facilities used by producers, erratic power supply, and unfriendly government policies to stabilise the prices and support the construction industry

Towards making home ownership more accessible, operators in the building sector value chain have appealed to the Federal government to intervene over the persistent increase in the price of cement.

Cement is a critical ingredient for housing construction in Nigeria, as it determines, in no small measure, the number of houses that could be constructed over time. It performs a fundamental role in constructing foundations, floors, walls, and other structural elements, providing strength, durability, and stability.

The potency of cement is essentially hinged on its ability to bind aggregates such as sand, gravel, and others together when mixed with water, thus making it an essential component for housing construction.

However, over the years, the construction industry in Nigeria has faced challenges, as cement prices have surged to unprecedented levels. Between December 2023 and November 2024, the price of a 50kg bag of cement sold for an average of N5,000 and N8,000 in the open market.

As of April 2025, the average retail price per 50kg bag of cement ranges between N10,000 and N10,500, depending on locations and the brand.

The price of cement had in the recent past surged to N15,000 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Lagos and other Nigerian cities before stabilising between N9,500 and N10,500 per 50kg, especially for one of the leading cement manufacturers. Other brands, such as BUA, Lafarge Cement, sell at a slightly different price in the building materials market.

The cement manufacturers attributed the price increase to rising production costs triggered by inflation and transportation costs, high cost of labour, frequent disruptions in gas supplies, and high cost of maintenance for equipment.

Block manufacturers under the aegis of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON) recently called on the Federal Government to intervene with practical and urgent measures to stabilise the surge in cement price and prevent a looming construction crisis.

NABMON President, Adesegun Banjoko, lamented over the continued inaction on the part of the government regarding the persistent rise in cement prices—a trend that has ripple effects across the construction sector, housing delivery, and public infrastructure projects.

Adesegun said, “We are waiting for that pragmatic step from the government on this issue of cement prices. Just as we’ve seen conscious and deliberate efforts to stabilise the Naira and petroleum prices, similar intervention is urgently needed in the cement sector.”

Expressing worries over the development, a builder based in Lagos, Mr Ebuka Okoro, said, “It will be ideal if the price of cement can be N5,000 per 50kg. This will encourage more investors and more people to build and bridge the huge housing deficit in the country.

“The usual complaints by the producers for hikes in the price are the cost of diesel and other industrial fuels, which they say increased significantly, impacting production costs. They also attributed the increase to frequent disruptions in gas supplies, which have affected cement production.”

A Lagos-based cement seller, Michael Adeyemi, lamented that the price increase has had a devastating impact on builders and contractors, with many struggling to manage their budgets.

According to him, the high price of cement will undoubtedly affect the buying power of individuals and businesses looking to buy homes or engage in other construction projects.”

Adeyemi said the government need to address the issues contributing to unstable prices, especially high maintenance costs due to heavy-duty machinery and facilities used by producers, erratic power supply, and unfriendly government policies to stabilise the prices and support the construction industry

Although the Federal government had in the recent past met with some of the producers and appealed to them to reduce prices to N7, 000 and N8, 000 per 50kg, but retail prices continue to hover around N10, 000 and N10, 500, thereby hampering efforts at increasing the nation’s housing stocks.

The experts advocated industry-specific intervention for cement manufacturers. They suggested that the government should subsidise the production costs, invest in infrastructure that enhances manufacturers’ activities, and encourage competition in the cement sector to drive down prices.

A building contractor, Mr Obiora Alex, said, “By subsidising production costs, the government can enable cement manufacturers to reduce their prices. Investing in infrastructure can reduce transportation costs and make it easier to get cement from factories to construction sites.”