The Nigerian government has threatened to open the borders to cement importation if cement manufacturers in the country refuse to reduce the price.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, said this on Tuesday, February 20, in Abuja at an emergency meeting held with cement and building materials manufacturers.
Dangiwa said materials for cement production like limestone, clay, silica sand, and gypsum sourced within our borders, should not be dollar-rated.
The Minister posited that that the price of gas that manufacturers are using as an excuse should not be because gas is a raw material found within the country.
He stated that the excuse of an increase in mining equipment should not come up because equipment bought by these manufacturers has been used for decades and not just purchased every day.
He explained that the border was closed to the importation of cement in order to assist local manufacturers.
He noted if the government decides to open it back for mass importation, cement prices would crash and local manufacturers would suffer.
Speaking further, the Minister said BUA cement is willing to crash the price of their cement, lower than the N7000, N8000 agreed by the manufacturers and he sees no reason why the others should not emulate them.
