Builders groan over hike, unavailability of cement in Kaduna

The increase in the price of cement has pushed up the price of building blocks in and around Kaduna State, Daily Trust reports.

Many builders and block manufacturers told our correspondent that even though the price of the product has increased, the major challenge was availability.

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A resident of Kaduna, Bello Idris, who is building his personal house at Rigasa, said he had to delay the project because of the high cost of building materials.

He lamented that despite  his love to own a house, he had no choice but to take a break.

“I want to continue but I had to stop because of the high cost of building materials.

“The government needs to find a way to help us so that poor people can own their houses,” he said.

Muhammad Tukur, a bricklayer at Hayin Malam Bello in Rigasa, said the price of a bag of cement, which cost between N2,650 and N2,700 three months ago is now sold between N3,500 and N3,800 making it almost unaffordable for those building their personal homes.

According to Tukur, a six-inch building block, which was sold at N150 is now sold between N170 and N180 while a nine-inch block is sold between N220 -N260.

He said with the hike in the cement price there was the tendency for small-scale block making outfits to compromise quality.

“This is because most of the producers want to make profit so they will reduce the quantity of cement used in block making, which will affect the quality of the blocks produced,” he said.

On his part, Umar Abdullahi, a block producer said the price of cement has affected the viability of their business adding that: “We are only managing because the price of cement has affected the business greatly.

“We sometimes sympathise with our customers who are building homes because they will also have to review their budgets.”

Abdullahi explained that some of the smaller block industries have since reduced the quality of their blocks in an attempt to make a profit and stressed that, “no one seems to be enjoying the market right now”.