News
Stakeholders Blame Cement Price Hike On Production Cut, Monopoly
Stakeholders in the building industry have attributed the high cost of cement in Nigeria to forces of demand and supply caused by monopoly and low production levels of major producers of the commodity.
A survey conducted by newsmen in states in the South -West of Nigeria -Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara, showed that the cost of a bag of cement ranges from N3500 to N4000 depending on the brand and the area.
The high cost of cement, it was also discovered, had impacted on the construction industry with some people with building projects either temporarily suspending work for now or reducing the level of work.
Speaking on the issue, Mrs Funmilola Adeboje, a cement distributor in Ibadan, said cement companies have reduced the number of distributors to only a few who get the commodity directly from the source.
She said that the few distributors selected, now called major distributors, have monopolized the market and thus the hike in price of the commodity.
“Only a few distributors have access to cement directly from the producers and because of shortage in supply the force of demand has also made the price to increase.
“In time past, I booked directly from the company, but I was told I can no longer book to get the cement, that I should come and buy it when cement is available.
“We don’t know how much the companies release the products to the major distributors but we buy at varying prices; N3,500 to N3,600.
“We only gain N100 on each bag and sometimes you can get as low as N20 on each bag and this was not how it used to be before now,” she said.
A sales representative of one of the major cement companies, who pleaded anonymity, said the issues affecting sales of cement in Nigeria are many.
He explained that production plants of two major cement producers had not been working at full capacity since the middle of 2020, “and the companies have just been patching things up.
“The plants when repaired can work at full capacity for a while and then it will break down again.
“Due to shortage of supplies, the market force took over in dictating the price because of high demand over supply and some other factors such as limited access given to distributors.
“The selected few also have to tip some people to get the commodity because of shortage in production and that increases the overall cost of selling cement in Nigeria.
“Lafarge has its own issues and also Dangote with producing optimally. So, the major distributors are maximizing the situation to their advantage.
“The cement companies would care less about the price as long as their commodities are being sold. Government might need to regulate the issue to rid it of corruption,” he said.
The source said one bag of cement is sold at from Bodija market for between N3,700 to N3800, but from the distributor it goes for N3,400 to N3,500.
According to him, the companies most times are discreet or not forthright with the actual price of the commodity, but a bag was sold for between N2,500 and N2800 in time past.
“A distributor that gets maybe 20 truck loads of cement in time past, but due to the situation on ground now gets two to five trucks and so they want to make the profit of 20 trucks from a few trucks,” he said.
A building contractor, Mr Rotimi Omoniyi, said the increase may be due to foreign exchange or production inputs, which has affected the selling price.
“I don’t think there is anything we do in Nigeria that has no connection with foreign exchange and that increases the cost of production.
“The masses are at the receiving end of high cost of production of goods in Nigeria, “ he said.
Cement sellers in Osun have attributed the hike in the prices of the product to scarcity and activities of middle men.
They said due to the unavailability of the product since 2020, the prices had been fluctuating.
In Osun, a cement distributor in Osogbo, Mr Ibrahim Awolola, said the increase in the price of cement in the market was due to its unavailability because of a sharp drop in production.
Awolola explained further that manufacturers of cement were also complaining of unavailability of raw materials for production, which in turn affected its availability
He said that the situation was simply in line with the law of supply and demand, “the more scarce and unavailable a commodity is, the more expensive it will become.’’
Awolola also said that cost of logistics and transportation the hike in the price of cement in the market.
The cement distributor said a bag of Dangote cement is sold between N3,600 and N3,700, depending on the location
He, however, assured that whenever there is improvemen in the production of cement and supply exceeded demand, the price would definitely come down.
Speaking in the same vein, another cement retailer in Osogbo, Mr Adewale Adeyemo, said that the scarcity of cement was the major factor that forced the price up.
Adeyemo said that information also made available to him revealed that haulage companies which provide trucks for the supply of cement have withdrawn their services, while the few ones working are the ones dictating the price of transportation.
News
Elder Statesman, Others Emerge PH Boat Club’s New Officials
The Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 has elected new officers to pilot its affairs.
An elder statesman and staunch supporter of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart emerged the club’s Secretary.
Sir Hart’s emergence followed an election conducted by the electoral committee over the weekend which threw up new officials to pilot its affairs at its corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The election which was adjudged one of the most credible, fairest and freest elections in the annals of the Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947, saw the emergence of Dan Harrison as Chairman.
Other members elected to run the activities of the body are Chief Coker Jimmy, Dr Oma Awoh, Chief Bib- Manuel Afonya, Dawari Dingo, Dango Kala- Otaji, Bara Alagoma and Dago George.
Recall that Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 was founded by the former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.
Many years after its inception, the club is still waxing strong with notable personalities as members.
Former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief AbiyeSekibo is also a prominent member of the club.
The elected officials including Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart were subsequently sworn in, signalling a new chapter for the revered group of bigwigs in the oil- rich region.
With the likes of an elder statesman, Sir Kingsley Fubara Hart on board, the narrative has changed for Port Harcourt Boat Club 1947 as expectations are high.
The newly elected boat Secretary, Sir Fubara Hart promised to work assiduously with the chairman and other members to chart a new course for the esteemed club.
He said efforts are in top gear to enroll new members who will contribute their quota to the advancement of the club.
Sir Hart described his emergence as an act of God, promising to support the new leadership to achieve the desired objective.
He hinted that the core values of the club would be upheld with vigour, saying working in synergy with the principles laid down by its founders remains their watchword.
He said the rules and regulations of the club shall be sustained in the interest of the club and every legitimate member.
News
New Oneh Eta Akpajo Emerges
The Akpajo Clan in Eleme Local Government Area was recently agog with activities following the coronation of HRH Emere Sunday Obo as the Oneh Eta Akpajo XII/paramount ruler of Akpajo clan in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Emere Obo was crowned by the traditional staff bearer of the clan, Chief Joseph Goka on behalf of the land priests at the community square.
Before his coronation, the new King was an acting traditional ruler of the community since the death of his predecessor, Emere Friedrich on the 11th of January, 2023.
He was also a member of the late King’s Council of Chiefs and member of Nchia and Eleme Council of Chiefs respectively.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after his coronation,the new Akpajo monarch said his reign will usher in peace and prosperity to the Kingdom.
He said he intends to work together with the government and companies operating in the Kingdom to attract development to Akpajo clan.
According to the monarch, he will always seek the advice of his elders and other clansmen before taking any decisions.
“I have promised them that I cannot use my authority to do anything without hearing from them first,” he said.
Emere Obo also stressed the need for the youths in the area to toe the path of peace, adding that as a traditional ruler, his responsibility is to ensure that Akpajo clan remains peaceful.
He also assured the government of support and praised both past and current administrations in the State for siting projects in the community.
Also speaking , the traditional staff bearer of the clan, Chief Joseph Goka said Emere Obo’s installation was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo Kingdom.
He also told newsmen that the king makers have not received any protest from any quarters concerning the installation since the process started months ago.
Chief Goka equally said his crowning of the monarch was based on instructions from the clan’s land priests and expressed optimism that Emere Obo is capable of representing the clan Traditionally and other wise.
Chief Goka described Emere Obo as trustworthy and law-abiding, adding that having worked with the late traditional ruler, Emere Obo has a full knowledge of the customs and traditions of not only Akpajo clan but the entire Eleme Kingdom.
He assured the new monarch of the support of the people of Akpajo and the entire traditional institution in the area.
Also speaking, one of the community’s land priests, Levy Kattey Jumaa said the installation of the new Akpajo monarch was in line with the customs and traditions of Akpajo and Eleme kingdom.
According to him, the new King has all the qualities expected from a chief in Eleme land, stressing that Emere Obo was only ascending the throne of his fathers having come from the royal family of Akpajo Kingdom.
He urged the public to disregard any insinuations concerning the installation, ”if at all there is any,” adding that it is only the land priests families that talk about kingship installations in Akpajo and Eleme and no other persons outside the land priests families can do that.
By: John Bibor
News
Awo Idemili Community May Become Ghost Town If
If urgent steps are not taken by concerned authorities, the Awo Idemili community in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State may become a ghost town, due to incessant killings, arson and kidnapping of residents by some alleged criminal elements suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB).
The Tide’s sourc learnt that a certain family, the Emenikes, said the only possible solution to save the lives of the family members and that of others was to seek protection in a foreign land.
According to sources, one of the family members, Mr Peter Emenike was adbucted and murdered in a gruesome manner by people believed to be members of the IPOB recently.
It was further learnt that Peter Emenike, now deceased, was the Personal Assistant to the Imo State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Traditional Matters and was never a member of any secret organisation as to warrant the fate that befell him.
His only offence as further gathered, was an alleged intelligence leaked to the Imo Government which the IPOB framed up in order to get him and his family members nailed.
It also learnt on a good authority that Peter Emenike’s lifeless body alongside that of his wife was found at their residence in Awo – Idemili, Imo State on 14th November, 2024 .
It was also reported that few days later, some family members of the Emenike family were declared missing and as one of them was found dead by a bush path, while others were still held hostage as at when this report was filed.
The Tide’s source claimed that a letter purportedly written by the IPOB members was delivered and dropped inside the car of the deceased bearing the insignia of the IPOB with the inscription: ‘None of your family members can hide for long’.
Unconfirmed report has it that the family, out of fear could not immediately report the matter to the Imo State Police Command as the group is believed to possess some spiritual powers to identify their perceived enemies from afar.
The family members of the deceased including oneMr Daniel Emenike, Boniface Emenike , Paul Emenike and others are now under serious threat by the separatist group (IPOB), thus the urgent need for protection especially in a foreign land.
A security analyst who pleaded anolmity, warned that the assassination of Peter Emenike and the serial killings and abduction of his family members stood as a signal to a new phase of IPOB’s operations .
“ This is not an attack on one family , but on the nation and our collective safety . The government must act swiftly not just to rescue the family but to reaffirm their stance on zero tolerance to terrorism “ he said .
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