Anger is building at the Federal Government over surging cement prices. Works Minister David Umahi has now called on manufacturers to slash costs immediately.
Umahi says the price spike is crippling infrastructure projects across the nation. Contractors are also demanding contract variations because materials cost so much more now.
Nigeria's inflation problem isn't temporary. It's deeply rooted in the country's economic structure.
A 50kg cement bag sold for between N7,500 and N10,000 in 2025. By 2026, that same bag cost as much as N13,000.
Other building materials have jumped even higher. Some have doubled in price within just one year.
Currently, cement prices across Nigeria are climbing fast. A 50kg bag now reaches N13,000 in some places, with retail prices between N11,500 and N15,000 depending on location.
Production costs and energy expenses are driving this crisis. The spike has frozen major construction work nationwide.
Prospective homeowners are being priced out of the market entirely. Banks and mortgage providers face mounting pressure from borrowers.
Dangote Cement and BUA Cement recently adjusted their prices upward again. Builders, contractors, landlords and house-hunters are all struggling to manage.
Dealers and distributors say they're exhausted by constant price increases. Both businesses and ordinary Nigerians can barely cope anymore.
Abuja has been shifting federal highways from asphalt to concrete. This new approach is Umahi's strategy to build roads that last 50 to 100 years.
Constant repairs won't drain budgets as much under this plan. It's an ambitious infrastructure vision for the country.
Umahi made his appeal during Lafarge Africa's corporate rebranding event in Lagos. He stressed that government needed manufacturers' cooperation on pricing.
"Lafarge and other cement makers must reduce their prices," Umahi told the crowd. According to him, "contractors keep asking me to revise contracts."
He pushed back firmly against those requests. "Nobody's contract gets reviewed — the cement manufacturers should review their costs," he noted.
Umahi reminded manufacturers that government investment creates opportunities for them. He called on Lafarge and peers to increase production capacity.
Growing infrastructure demand presents real business chances for the sector. Manufacturers should seize this moment, he argued.
He highlighted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as proof of progress. International observers have praised the project's quality and scale.
The World Bank evaluated the coastal highway recently. Officials told him the project deserved higher valuation because the construction standard is exceptional.
Umahi credited President Tinubu for driving this infrastructure surge. Leadership and political commitment have made transformation possible, he said.
Nigeria is on track toward restored prosperity, the minister assured citizens. Umahi promised the administration won't deviate from its development course.
