BUA has done well by reducing the cost of cement a bit, to #3,500. It is important to note that this price is ex-factory, meaning that 3,500 is what BUA sells it at their factory.

If the distributors go pick up from their factory and transport to locations, it most likely will be sold from #4500 to #4800 per bag depending on where you are buying.

Currently Dangote is sold for #5200 where I live in Lagos. It may not be a lot of difference if you are buying a bag or 2 but for bulk buyers, the difference can be huge. This is good all the same.

Summarily, monopoly is not healthy for any business in any country. Competition must be encouraged to enable service providers put out their best products, and at the best prices too. Let other players come into the cement business.

The prices of cement still has to come down.

Government must provide an enabling environment for competition, and also help manufacturers drive their production costs down by providing electricity.

I am sure one of the drivers of these high cost of cement is the cost of diesel, and something has to be done to bring this cost down.

The ultimate goal is to ensure that Nigeria is a manufacturing nation.

ES