In a bid to address concerns over a potential hike in cement prices in January 2024, the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has urgently called upon President Bola Tinubu to intervene and engage in discussions with cement manufacturers.
There are indications that cement prices, along with those of ready-mix concrete and in-situ concrete production, may experience an upward adjustment, posing a threat to the nation’s economic stability.
In a release jointly signed by Tpl. Sulaimon Yusuf, FNITP, RTP National President, QS. Mrs. Adenike Ayanda, FNIQS, General Secretary,
Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), the group said, the BCPG emphasised the critical role of cement in building production and highlights the adverse effects of frequent price increases, including compromised building quality and heightened risks of collapses.
Expressing deep concern for the safety of the Nigerian built environment, the BCPG appeals to President Tinubu to scrutinize the current market price of a 50kg bag of cement, currently at N5,700, despite a previous promise by a manufacturer to maintain it at N3,500.
The guild emphasizes that any further increase in cement prices could jeopardize ongoing building projects, particularly impacting the ‘Renewed Hope’ Housing Programme of the Federal Government. The potential consequences include the risk of abandoned constructions leading to building collapses and diminished demand for new buildings due to high rental values amid dwindling purchasing power.
Drawing attention to President Tinubu’s successful efforts in mitigating building collapses during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, the BCPG urges him to leverage this experience nationally. The president’s commitment to addressing the challenges of building collapses is crucial, and the guild challenges him not to relent in his pursuit of a safer built environment.