Business
Dangote Cement Price Slash Receives Kudos In PH
Dangote cement Plc has announced a new slash in the prices of the various grades of its product.
As expected, reactions are trailing the action of the company by dealers and consumers of the commodity in Port Harcourt and its environs.
At the Mile three building materials market in Diobu, Port Harcourt, a cross section of dealers who spoke to our correspondent welcomed the development but said they were faced with the challenge of selling off old stock.
According to Emeka Onyeoma, who claimed to have been in the cement business for more than twenty years, the entrance of Dangote group into the industry was a good omen.
He explained that before Dangote delved into cement production, no producer toyed with the idea of price reduction, even as he said the action would positively affect development at the building sector.
Another dealer who would not want his name on print while expressing appreciation to the Dangote group appealed to the company to still maintain the quality of its products despite the reduction in price.
For Pastor Miller Mbiakpa from Odi in Bayelsa State, the move by Dangote “is a welcome development”.
Mbiakpa whose house according to him was destroyed during the military invasion of the Community said the development would help him in his efforts toward rebuilding his house.
According to him, anyone who works to sabotage such effort by the company “is an enemy of progress”.
In his reaction, according to reports the National President of the Block Moulders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Rasidi Adebowale said he received the news with happiness.
Considering what the price reduction holds for his members he expressed optimism that the new price review would translate to reduction in the price of blocks.
Also, President, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Bruno Niyi was reported to have hailed the decision by Dangote Cement Plc even as he urged the management of the company to sustain the new price regime and ensure that it was not hijacked by profiteers in the industry.
By the company’s actions, the new price regime that was announced by the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar Edwin would see the company sell its 32.5 cement grade at N1000 per 5- kilogram (kg) bag, while the higher 42.5 grade would sell for N1,150 per bag.
The new prices, exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), represent about 40 per cent discount.
on the prevailing market price of the product which is currently sold for N1700 irrespective of the grade, across the country.
Edwin was further reported to have said that the move was in line with the company’s commitment to the nation’s dire need for the development of infrastructure and to boost the federal and state government’s ongoing efforts to reducing the near 20 million housing deficit in the continent’s largest economy.
The Tide further gathered that industry watchers have been over whelmed by the move.
Acting Branch Controller, CBN, Mr Emmanuel Etuk (left) who represented Mr Ndubisi Jude Ekioebelen, Port Harcourt Branch Controller, chatting with Corporate Communication Manager, Mr Obinali Okoli (right, during a workshop on Financial Inclusion in Port Harcourt , recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 33 banks have met new minimum capital requirements under its recapitalisation programme, raising a combined N4.65 trillion to strengthen the financial system.
The apex bank disclosed this in a statement marking the end of the exercise, which commenced in March 2024 and drew participation from domestic and foreign investors.
The statement was jointly signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Olubukola Akinwunmi, and the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The statement said “Over the 24-month period, Nigerian banks raised a total of N4.65tn in new capital, strengthening the resilience of the financial system and enhancing its capacity to support the economy.”
The regulator said local investors accounted for 72.55 per cent of the funds, while international investors contributed 27.45 per cent, reflecting continued confidence in the sector.
Commenting on the outcome, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said in the statement, “The recapitalisation programme has strengthened the capital base of Nigerian banks, reinforcing the resilience of the financial system and ensuring it is well-positioned to support economic growth and withstand domestic and external shocks.”
It added that while 33 banks have complied with the new thresholds, a few others are still undergoing regulatory and legal processes.
The statement noted, “The CBN confirms that 33 banks have met the revised minimum capital requirements established under the programme.
“A limited number of institutions remain subject to ongoing regulatory and judicial processes, which are being addressed through established supervisory and legal frameworks.
“All banks remain fully operational, ensuring continued access to banking services for customers.”
The apex bank stressed that the exercise was executed without disrupting banking operations, ensuring uninterrupted access to services nationwide.
It further stated that key prudential indicators have improved, particularly capital adequacy ratios, which remain above global Basel benchmarks.
The minimum ratios were set at 10 per cent for regional and national banks and 15 per cent for banks with international licences.
The bank also said the recapitalisation coincided with a gradual exit from regulatory forbearance, a move it said improved asset quality, strengthened balance sheet transparency, and enhanced overall stability.
To preserve these gains, the CBN said it has reinforced its risk-based supervision framework, mandating periodic stress tests and adequate capital buffers for banks.
It added that supervisory and prudential guidelines would be reviewed regularly to strengthen governance, risk management, and resilience across the sector.
“The successful completion of the programme establishes a stronger and more resilient banking system, better positioned to support lending, mobilise savings, and withstand domestic and global shocks,” the statement said.
The Tide learnt that foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s banking sector rose by 93.25 per cent year-on-year to $13.53bn in 2025, up from $7.00bn recorded in 2024, amid the ongoing recapitalisation drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics capital importation report showed that the banking sector remained the dominant destination for foreign capital, accounting for $13.53bn of the total $23.22bn recorded in 2025, representing 58.26 per cent of total inflows, up from 56.81 per cent in 2024.
The surge reflects heightened investor interest in Nigerian banks as they raised fresh capital to meet new regulatory thresholds introduced by the apex bank, with industry-wide recapitalisation activities driving large-scale inflows across all quarters of the year.
However, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) recently raised concerns over weak credit flows to small businesses despite recent banking sector reforms.
The CPPE, led by a renowned economist, Dr Muda Yusuf, acknowledged that the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise by the CBN has strengthened the financial system, but warned that the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful support for the real economy.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
