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Bring Down Cement Price, FG Told
A former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to bring down the price of cement to make housing affordable to the masses.
Jakande made the call, while speaking with newsmen at the closing ceremony of the 11th Lagos Housing Fair.
He stressed that Nigeria was blessed with abundant raw materials for cement production.
“The cost of building materials, particularly cement, is unduly high. The price of cement should be brought down as we have abundant raw materials for cement production in the country,” he said.
Besides, Jakande called for more investments in housing delivery to ensure that all the citizens were able to have decent accommodation.
“I wish Nigeria will transform into a country where everybody has good accommodation,” said Jakande, who executed one of the most ambitious low-cost housing projects during his tenure as Lagos governor.
He commended the organisers of the Lagos Housing Fair and urged them not to relent in their efforts, as housing still remained a major problem facing Nigerians.
Mr Rufus Akinrolabu, whose company fabricated brick block-making machines, said that the fair would ginger the key players in housing sector to do more.
He stressed that the use of stabilised laterite to produce brick blocks for cheap and affordable houses would aid the fulfilment of housing delivery programmes.
Akinrolabu said that the utilisation of stabilised brick blocks in mass housing programmes by governments and private developers would help in reducing the cost of houses, while forcing down the price of cement.
Reports from Rivers State indicate that in some parts of Port Harcourt a bag of cement is sold for as high as N2,300. In Calabar, Cross River State, the price of cement which rose in February has remained high,
After rising to a peak of N2,000 a bag in January, it dropped to N1,700 the following month.
But since then, our investigation revealed that the price had hovered between N1, 700 and N1,800 for a bag in some areas of the city.
At 8 Miles, a suburb of the metropolis, a bag of cement is sold for N1, 800 while it goes for N1,750 at Ikot Ushie area.
At the building materials section of Watt Market, the city’s main market, a bag of UNICEM brand goes for between N1, 700 and N1, 750 for those buying large quantities.
Our correspondent also reports that the Dangote and UNICEM brands are the usual products sold by dealers in the city.
A cement dealer at Watt market, Mr Ndubuisi Egbo, said the current price of the product was high but added that it was tolerable when compared to the January rate of N2,000 per bag.|
“I believe the price is alright now because it has continued to slide and the product is available, which is an indication that the price may drop further,’’ he said.
The Tide recalls that in 2010, a bag of cement was sold for between N1,300 and N1, 400 throughout the year.
Mr Okon Ephraim, a bricklayer, said the price of the commodity had been stable for some months but regretted that the current price was still too high for the average resident.
“With this high price, it will be difficult for a poor man to build his own house,” he said.
Mr Emmanuel Akpan, a building contractor, told newsmen that the price was “ high and unbearable.”
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.