Consumers and construction stakeholders across multiple states are grappling with a fresh spike in cement prices, as retail rates now hover between N10,500 and N11,000 per bag in many markets.
Findings from market checks in Kwara, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and other northern states show that the increase cuts across leading brands, placing added strain on household builders, contractors and block manufacturers already contending with tight project budgets.
In Ilorin and surrounding areas of Kwara State, cement that sold for between N9,300 and N9,700 per bag last month is now priced at roughly N10,500 to N10,700, depending on brand and outlet.
At major distribution points in the state capital, a bag of Dangote Cement that previously went for about N9,500 is now selling between N10,500 and N10,600.
Similarly, BUA Cement has climbed from around N9,500–N9,600 to approximately N10,600–N10,700. Products from Lafarge Africa are within the same N10,600 to N10,700 bracket, while Mangal Cement, previously the cheapest at N9,300–N9,400, now sells for between N10,500 and N10,600.
Traders link the upward adjustment to higher supply chain and production costs, but buyers say such explanations offer little relief as construction budgets are being stretched further.
An Ilorin-based dealer operating as Orire Cement said customers have reacted strongly to the new pricing.
“Sales have dropped because people cannot afford to buy in large quantities again. Even those who buy trucks of 900 bags are reconsidering because the total cost has increased significantly,” she said.
In Abuja, similar patterns have emerged. A survey of markets in Utako and other building material hubs showed BUA cement retailing at about N11,200 per bag in some outlets. Dangote cement sells for N10,800 in Utako, while other sellers list it at N11,000.
Dealers noted that customers purchasing full truckloads of Dangote cement may still obtain it at around N10,500 per bag, but such bulk options are beyond the reach of many small-scale builders. One Abuja dealer attributed the final retail cost to added transportation, loading fees and distributor margins that widen the gap between factory and market prices.
In Lagos, the jump in cement prices has drawn criticism from builders, contractors and block makers. The cost of a 50kg bag has risen from about N9,000 in December 2025 to N10,000 in January 2026 and recently to as high as N11,500.
Retailers who spoke with our correspondent accused dealers and intermediaries of inflating prices despite minimal changes from manufacturers.
“We buy cement from middle men and dealers and not directly from manufacturers. The dealers and middle men buy at a reasonable price, but turn around to inflate the prices,” said Ikechukwu Anthony, a cement seller in the Ojo area of Lagos.
“They claim that the prices have increased due to transportation costs and other expenses, but we know that’s not true,” he added.
Another seller, Ibrahim Ojo, in the Mowo area of Badagry, echoed the same view, alleging that middlemen are responsible for the hike. Dealers, however, declined to comment, fuelling further speculation.
In Kano, retailers say the benchmark price has effectively shifted to N10,500 and above.
Alhaji Nasiru Awwalu Mustapha, a BUA dealer in Maidile quarters, Kumbotso Local Government Area, said manufacturers now supply cement at elevated rates.
“BUA is giving us N10,500. Dangote is N10,450 while Mangal is N10,550 per bag. By the time we add transport and other expenses, retail prices go to N10,800 or N11,000,” he said.
He warned that frequent price adjustments are dampening demand and slowing construction activities.
“Customers complain every day. Some have suspended their projects. We are not happy either because when prices go up too fast, sales volume drops,” he added.
Another dealer, Sani Maigemu, supported this view, saying cement firms have cited taxes and other statutory obligations as factors behind the revised pricing.
Block manufacturers are already adjusting. Aminu Inuwa, a Kano-based block maker, said cement now costs between N10,800 and N10,900 depending on brand.
“Mangal is about N10,900, while BUA and Dangote are around N10,800. Because of this, we have increased the price of blocks. A nine-inch special block that was N750 is now N800,” he said, noting that further increases may follow if cement prices continue to rise.
In Kaduna, BUA is selling at N10,900, with Dangote and Mangal around N10,800. Dealers in Jigawa confirmed prices reaching N11,000 per bag. However, in Zaria, some sellers said Sokoto cement, BUA and Dangote were still available at about N10,200, offering modest relief.
Beyond domestic concerns, some dealers raised issues about price differences across borders.
Mustapha alleged that Nigerian manufacturers supply neighbouring countries at lower rates when converted to naira.
A Nigerian resident in Niamey, Niger Republic, Muazzamu Sani, said BUA cement retails at the equivalent of roughly N7,500 per bag in the Nigerien capital, though prices vary.
According to him, a bag costs “Jakka uku” (three thousand CFA francs). Using an exchange estimate of about N2,500 per 1,000 CFA francs, this translates to around N7,500.
The claim has intensified frustration among some local dealers who argue that Nigerian consumers should not pay more than buyers in neighbouring markets. However, industry analysts note that export pricing may reflect differences in tax systems, logistics, exchange rates and market strategies, including possible incentives.
For households, the immediate impact is on housing affordability. With inflation eroding purchasing power, an additional N1,000 to N1,500 per bag significantly raises overall construction costs. A modest two-bedroom bungalow can require hundreds of bags, meaning the increase could add hundreds of thousands of naira to a project.
A former President of the Nigerian Institute of Builders, Kunle Awobodu, expressed concern about the broader economic implications.
“What we are hearing is that the prices of cement are cheaper in the neighbouring countries which means there would be reduction in smuggling.
“Naturally one will not expect cement prices to become very unbearable. Purchasing power is highly affected. Today, on Victoria Island, two major ready mixed companies had no cement to produce and the cement price was high when a bag of cement climbed to N11,000 and N11,500.
“It is not good for the economy. It is not an encouragement for development, it doesn’t help the construction industry in Nigeria because when purchasing power is low and prices of building materials continue to skyrocket, it would result in fewer buildings being constructed.”
Awobodu urged federal authorities to step in.
“We need to further interrogate the manufacturers to understand the reason things are like that despite the fact that we have abundance of limestone which is the major raw materials for cement. The government needs to intervene to see if there are areas they could be of assistance to the manufacturers in order to make the price affordable.”
For now, N10,500 appears to be the new baseline in many markets, with N11,000 increasingly common.
As one frustrated builder in Ilorin put it, “Every time we adjust to a price, it changes again. Planning has become very difficult.”
An official of one of the cement manufacturers, who requested anonymity, said the rise is industry-wide and linked partly to imported inputs priced in dollars.
“I believe with the dollar coming down, very soon the price will come down,” he stated.
(DAILY TRUST)
