The prices of some building materials in Asaba and its environs have increased in the last two months, a survey by our correspondent has shown.

The survey showed that prices of building materials, such as sharp sand, iron rod, granites and cement increased slightly.

The survey revealed that a tipper load of sharp sand, which was sold for N15,000 in Asaba in May, now costs N16,000, while six tonnes of the same commodity now sells for N10,000 as against N9,000 before.

The survey also showed that the price of granite slightly increased as a tipper load of the commodity, which was N218,000 in May, now sells for N220,000.

The price of iron rod also recorded an increase as one bar of the commodity which was sold for N1,700 in May, now sells for N1,750.

Some of the dealers of building materials attributed the increases to the rainy season.

The dealers said although patronage was usually low during the rainy season because of low activities in the building industry, it was very difficult dredging sharp sand during the period.

Mr John Omikolo, a dealer of sharp sand, said, “it is always very difficult for dredgers to dredge sharp sand in the rainy season because of the high level of water in the river.

“The few dredgers who are able to take the risk to dredge this period pay more for the labour. This, among other things, has a way of affecting our prices.’’

Another dealer, Mr Lawrence Okondu, said that in most cases dealers of sand hardly dredged themselves but employed the services of dredgers, whose services were very expensive.

The Tide

  reports that the price of cement also recorded a slight increase as each bag sold for N1,650 in May, now costs N1,700.