Nigerians may be heading for another round of economic hardship, as the prices of cement produced by major manufacturers, including Dangote Cement and Mangal, have reportedly risen nationwide.
Reports revealed that the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of cement climbed to as high as ₦10,500 in January 2026, from about ₦9,800 in December 2025.+See more details
This represents an increase of roughly ₦1,000 per bag, translating to a 7.1 per cent hike within one month.
According to Daily Post, the latest adjusted prices have already taken effect in Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger and several other parts of the country, with variations depending on location and transportation costs.
Naija News reports that the development has continued to baffle many Nigerians, particularly given that the country is richly endowed with limestone and other raw materials used for cement production in places such as Obajana in Kogi State, Okpella in Edo State, and other mining hubs.
The hike has also come despite earlier assurances by major stakeholders in the cement industry that prices would not exceed ₦7,000 per bag.
Industry players warn that the rising cost of cement could further worsen Nigeria’s housing crisis, pushing rents beyond the reach of average earners.
Findings indicate that the minimum annual rent for self-contained apartments has risen by over 100 per cent to about ₦800,000, from around ₦400,000, especially in urban centres such as Abuja and Lagos.
Despite the surge in rents and construction costs, the Federal Government has yet to make any concrete intervention, even as the cost of living continues to soar.
In December 2025, Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 15.15 per cent, from 14.45 per cent recorded a month earlier.
Reacting to the development, the former President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Oroji Wamakko, expressed concern over the continued increase in cement prices, warning that it poses a serious threat to property development and employment in the country.
Speaking with journalists, Wamakko said higher cement prices would inevitably increase the cost of housing and rent, while forcing some businesses in the construction value chain to shut down.
“Well, to tell you the truth, we are not happy with this development because first, the implication is a rise in the price of property development in the country,” he told Daily Post.
“Secondly, even the rent of apartments will go up, and it will also increase the loss of jobs by other people because this can call for other people to close their business because they cannot afford to go on with this.”
Dangote, BUA Recall ₦7,000 Price Promise
Wamakko recalled that last year, cement manufacturers such as Dangote and BUA were summoned by the Presidency after prices rose to about ₦10,000 per bag.
According to him, the companies had at the time promised to reduce prices to around ₦7,000 per bag.
“If you remember last year, some of these cement production companies, like BUA and Dangote, were invited by the presidency when the cement jumped to ₦10,000, and they promised to bring it down to ₦7,000,” he said.
However, he noted that the reasons behind the current increase remain unclear, adding that the government has remained silent on the matter.
“So for now, we don’t know what happens or why the increase, and the government has kept quiet. Nobody said anything,” he added.
Price Control Board Not Active – Wamakko
The former REDAN president also lamented the apparent inactivity of the Price Control Board, which he said should be monitoring and regulating sharp increases in essential building materials.
“We suggested at that time there should be a price control board, which is in existence; at least they should be doing their work. Unfortunately, nobody said anything for now,” he said.
He warned that the situation has become unpredictable, making it difficult to estimate how high cement prices could rise.
Wamakko attributed the spike in cement prices to several factors, including increased demand arising from massive road construction projects, where cement is increasingly being used in place of other materials.
He also cited foreign exchange volatility and Nigeria’s dependence on imported chemicals and equipment needed for cement production.
“Probably because of the road construction, they are now using cement instead of other materials, and that brings high demand,” he said.
“Secondly, possibly because of the fluctuation of currency in the market. Most of the needed equipment and some chemical materials used for cement production are imported.”
He called for a comprehensive review of the cement production and pricing system to identify the root causes of the problem and develop sustainable solutions.
“Together, we felt that there must be a complete checkup within the system to find out what the problem is and how we solve it,” Wamakko concluded.+Read full details
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