Business
Cement Dealers, Block Makers Okay FG’s Directive
Cement dealers and block makers in the FCT on Wednesday lauded the Federal Government’s intervention to bring down the high cost of cement within 30 days.
A cross section of cement dealers and block makers who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen in Abuja said they were very happy with the development.
Miss Cynthia Ndubisi, a distributor and block maker at Lugbe, said the increase in price of cement had adversely affected the price of blocks, which had resulted in low sales.
She said government’s intervention was very timely, noting that it would boost the trade in cement and blocks.
“We are not yet satisfied, because we used to sell cement for N1,600 but as time goes on, the price continues to increase. Although we make more sales, we still prefer the price to be cheaper than this,” she said.
Mr Sanusi Samuel, a cement dealer, near the Games Village, however, said that a reduction in the price of cement might not ultimately result in a decrease in the price of blocks.
He advised government to also consider reducing the prices of other commodities, such as diesel, “which indirectly affects the price of cement”.
“It is very important that the price of diesel be reduced. It is not only cement that determines how much we sell blocks.
“We buy one litre of gas for N100, but now it is N190 per litre; you have to recover your cost,” he added.
Mr Peter Dibor, another block manufacturer at Lugbe, commended government, while noting with regret, the ordeal dealers had gone through since the hike in price.
“The price of a nine inches block is N150, while the six inches is sold for N120. But since the increase in the price of cement from N1,600 to N3,000 the price of a nine inches block now cost N180, while the six inches block costs N170.
“We cannot produce the quantity of blocks we are supposed to produce in a day. This is making the builders to complain and purchase a few blocks, which is giving us low returns on sales. In fact, as I am talking now, I have not made any sales today,’’ he said.
Miss Favour Chukwu, a cement dealer and block manufacturer at Apo, said the high price of cement had made her to record low sales.
“We don’t sell that much again in a day since the hike in price of cement. We sell about 50 bags of cement, unlike when the price was lower and we were selling up to 100 and 200 bags a day,’’ she said.
Mr Peter Uchize, a cement dealer at Lugbe in Abuja, said sales had not been encouraging since February when the price of cement increased to N1,900 from N1,550.
He said government’s intervention in resolving the problem was a welcome development.
“It has not been easy since February when the price of cement increased. This has resulted in low sales. Infact, what I have made today is not up to N50,000,’’ he added.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.