Dealer Blames Cement Price Hike On Transport Fare

Some cement dealers in Enugu State on Tuesday attributed increase in the price of the commodity in the state to the hike in transport fare.

A survey conducted by our correspondent in Enugu, showed a five to seven per cent increase in the price of the commodity.

Mr Thomas Nnamani, a cement dealer at Kenyatta Market, blamed the hike in fare on the deplorable condition of roads particularly in the South East zone of the country.

According to him, it takes vehicles long hours to deliver goods from Benue or Port Harcourt to Enugu due to the bad roads.

Nnamani also said that the ban on the importation of the product placed by the Federal Government, stimulated local production of the commodity, whereas the security situation in parts of the country, posed a serious problem as many lorry drivers preferred not to go up North for fear of being attacked.

The Burham Cement used to sell for N1700 but now sells for N1800. The same is applicable to Dangote Cement, which is more popular in the Nigerian market.

Two months ago, Dangote Cement sold for N1600, but it now sells for N1650 and N1700 depending on where you are buying the product.

“Unicem cement, which people refer to as very essential sold last month at the rate of N1700, but now sells for N1750.

“Ibeto Cement, which is more popular in the Southern parts of the country used to sell for N1700 before, but now sells for N1800, while Bua Cement, which they refer to as a foreign product used to sell for N1700 two months ago; now it sells for N1850.”

Mr John Egbosimba, another dealer at the Nike Timber Market in Abakpa Nike, said there was high demand for the product especially from some of the construction companies and individuals who wanted to use opportunity presented by the dry season to complete their projects.

Egbosimba, however, appealed to government at all levels to complete the roads in the zone to help bring down the cost of the product.