The Minister for Works, Senator David Umahi, visited the headquarters of BUA Cement in Sokoto on Thursday, urging the company’s management to take further steps to reduce the prices of cement in the market.
Umahi’s visit comes amid concerns over the discrepancy between agreed-upon prices and actual retail prices of cement.
Despite the Federal Government and cement manufacturers resolving to reduce cement prices to between N7,000 and N8,000, recent checks by Saving Point Media revealed that retail prices have risen to as high as N9,500 and N13,000 nationwide.
During his visit, Umahi emphasized the government’s commitment to road infrastructure development, including a 372-kilometer dual carriageway project from Kaduna to Sokoto State.
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He highlighted the use of asphalt for the first phase and concrete for the step-down, in line with the government’s agenda.
Umahi commended BUA Cement for maintaining cleanliness within its premises and for its operational efficiency.
However, he urged the company to ensure that the product remains affordable to meet the housing needs of the masses.
Senator Aminu Tambuwal also praised BUA’s management for its performance and urged them to enhance production capacity while keeping prices affordable.
In response, the Managing Director of BUA Cement, Engineer Yusuf Binji, assured that the company’s fifth production line would significantly increase cement production, leading to a reduction in prices.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to meeting market demand and contributing to the government’s housing initiative.
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