Insecurity: Bizman Decries High Cost Of Building Materials

Insecurity in the coun
try has been identified as a major reason for the high cost of building materials.
The Chairman, Finished Building Materials Dealers Association in Port Harcourt, Mr Anayo Chikezie, made this ascertion in an interview with The Tide in his office, Friday.
Chikezie stated that insecurity, kidnapping and killings in the country have made it impossible for foreign investors to invest explaining that “this has made some of the people to go abroad to source these materials that could have been produced here.”
He further said, “we don’t have markets here where these building materials are sold, there is therefore need for adequate security to assure investors.
He noted that incessant spate of kidnapping and arbitrary killings have put fear in investors, saying that no one wants to operate in an insecured environment.
Chikezie also said unsteady power supply was also another reason why cost of building materials were high.
According to him, “without steady power, the cost of production will be high due to the cost of buying power generating sets, fuel and maintenance.”
He expressed regrets that investors go to countries where they can produce at cheaper rates rather than come to Nigeria where their profit margin would not be high, adding that “we may not even buy because it would be costlier than the imported ones.”
He advised government to create an enabling environment that allows foreign investors to come and invest.

Tonye Nria-Dappa