By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has agreed with the cement manufacturers on the modalities to tackle the escalating price of cement in Nigeria.
This was the outcome of the meeting of the Minister of Works, Sen. Nweze David Umahi, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, the cement manufacturers, and the Cement Producers Association.
The meeting which was held behind closed doors at the office of the Minister of Works in Abuja, had in attendance, the representatives of Dangote Cement Plc, BUA Cement Plc, Larfage Africa Plc, and Cement Producers Association.
Speaking, the Minister of Works said the meeting was aimed at addressing the concerns of Nigerians on the escalating cost of cement in Nigeria marked by the disparities between the ex-factory price and the market price of cement.
He expressed the hope that the meeting would proffer enduring solutions to the unabating increase in cement price.
On her part, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment said it was worrisome that the price of cement was surging despite her ministry’s regulatory policies and the Backward Integration Programme ( BIP) introduced to manage cement price and development.
A communique was issued after the meeting and was read by the Minister of Works, according to a statement signed by his SA, Media, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji.
The Ministers also used the opportunity to re-assure Nigerians that the Renewed Hope Administration of President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is committed to addressing the economic challenges facing the country and shall leave no stone unturned in addressing the escalating prices of commodities, including the price of cement in Nigeria.
Confirming the communique as the true reflection of their deliberations, the spokespersons of the cement manufacturers and the Cement Producers Association thanked the Ministers for their sense of devotion to the cause of national development and expressed confidence while lauding the timely intervention of the federal government in the challenges facing cement manufacturing in Nigeria.
The spokesperson of Dangote Cement Plc and GMD/CEO, Mr Arvind Pathak said, “We have agreed on a window of 30 days to re-assemble and see how best we can move on.”
The spokesperson of BUA Cement Plc and Group Executive Director, Mr Kabiru Rabiu said, “Another thing that I need to add is that BUA is committed to bringing an additional 6 million tonnes of cement in the next few weeks, and that will seriously dampen the pressure of supply in the market and we will continue to commit to this engagement.”
The spokesperson of Lafarge Africa Plc and Commercial Director Mr Gbenga Onimowo said “It was very timely meeting over the challenges that we all face as manufacturers, and I think we appreciate that as we look forward to the solutions coming, the support they’re going to give in the coming days.”
The President of Cement Producers Association, Prince David Aweta, added
“I am actually here to advocate for the six other players to join in the industry because practically, we can see that the operators in the cement industry at the moment are so few and that is why we are having this perennial problem of cement hikes particularly during dry seasons.”