Consumers and builders across several states are groaning under the weight of fresh increases in cement prices, with a bag now selling between N10,500 and N11,000 in many parts of the country.
Market surveys conducted in Kwara, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and other northern states indicate that the upward review has become widespread, cutting across major brands and leaving household builders, block makers and contractors struggling to adjust their budgets.
In Ilorin and other parts of Kwara State, cement that previously sold for around N9,300 to N9,700 per bag last month now averages between N10,500 and N10,700 depending on the brand and location.
At major building material hubs in the state capital, a bag of Dangote Cement which earlier sold for about N9,500 now goes for between N10,500 and N10,600.
Similarly, BUA Cement has risen from roughly N9,500–N9,600 to about N10,600–N10,700.
Lafarge Africa products are also being sold within the same N10,600 to N10,700 range, while Mangal Cement, which was the most affordable at about N9,300–N9,400, now sells for between N10,500 and N10,600.
Traders attribute the development to what they describe as rising supply chain costs and increased production expenses.
