The Federal Government has threatened to open the borders to allow cement imports if Nigeria’s cement manufacturers fail to lower the country’s cement price.
Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, issued the threat on Tuesday, stating that critical raw materials for cement manufacture, such as limestone, clay, silica sand, and gypsum sourced within the country, should not be dollar-rated.
Dangiwa addressed this during an emergency meeting in Abuja with cement and building material makers.
According to him, the price of gas that industries are claiming as an excuse is unsustainable because gas is a raw commodity found in the country.
He also stated that the excuse for an increase in mining equipment should be avoided because equipment purchased by manufacturers has been in use for decades and is not purchased daily.
To assist local manufacturers, the minister announced that the border will be blocked to cement imports. However, he stated that if the government decides to open the border to mass importation, cement prices will plummet, and local businesses will suffer greatly.
The minister, who urged manufacturers to be more patriotic, stated that BUA Cement, for example, has been willing and is still willing, as of the last time he spoke with them, to reduce the price of their cement to less than N7000, N8000 agreed upon by the manufacturers, and he sees no reason why others should not do the same.
“The challenges you speak of, many countries are facing the same challenges and some even worse than that but as patriotic citizens, we have to rally around whenever there is a crisis to change the situation.” Said the Minister.
