Nigeria’s cement manufacturers have agreed to reducing the price of cement to a range of N7,000 to N8,000 per 50kg bag across the country.

During a meeting convened by Minister of Works Senator David Umahi in Abuja on Monday, manufacturers affirmed their willingness to further decrease prices once the Federal Government fulfills its intervention promises.

“The cement manufacturers and the Government noted that the current high price of cement is abnormal in some locations nationwide. Ideally, cement retail prices should not cost more than ₦7,000.00 to ₦8,000.00/ 50kg bag of cement,” the ministry said in a statement.

“Therefore, the three cement manufacturers: Dangote Cement Plc, BUA Cement Plc and Larfarge Africa Plc have agreed that cement cost will not be more than between ₦7,000.00 and ₦8,000.00/50kg bag depending on the location.”

“Going forward, the government advised cement manufacturers to set up a price monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance, and manufacturers have willingly accepted to do so and to sanction any of her distributors or retailers found wanting.

“The government expects the agreed price to drop after securing government’s interventions on the challenges of the manufacturers on gas, import duty, smuggling, and better road network. The meeting agreed to reconvene in 30 days to review progress made,” it added.

Also in attendance at the meeting was the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Uzoka-Anite says efforts are being made to tackle the underlying reasons for the abrupt increase in commodity prices.