₦airaland Forum

tenpipsperday:
My brother it serves us right. I am a Christian and a Yoruba, when I was telling or warning the members of my family about the impending doom of APC in 2015 they didn't listen to me. Last presidential election tribalism once again blinded them but the bitter truth is that it is just the beginning.


Where is MC Oluomo and where is Seyi? Oh I forgot that one is busy giving them Bibles

The Police Command in Ondo State has admonished religious leaders, consisting of Muslim, Christians, and traditional worshippers, to suspend night worship due to the security challenges in the state.

Mr Adebowale Lawal, Commissioner of Police in the state, gave the advice on Friday in Akure while addressing the newsmen on the recent abduction of six members of a celestial church in Uso.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victims were kidnapped on Feb.25 during a midnight service at the church located along Uso/Owo Expressway in Owo Local Government Area of the state.

NAN also report that one of the worshipers was rescued and one informant was arrested by the police after the incident.

It was gathered that the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N100 million before the victims could be released.

Lawal explained that all the victims were pregnant women and one physically challenged person.

The commissioner said it would be easier for the police to monitor religious activities during the daytime than at night.

“On the issue of ransom, nobody has come forward to speak officially about ransom payments.

“And we have always advised religious leaders, if they want to do anything, they should carry us along so we can give expert advice on whether it is safe for their congregation.

“In the recent case, nobody informed us about any activity taking place there.

“I do not know when a church became a maternity home or hospital. If someone is pregnant, the best place is a hospital or a maternity home.

Consumers and builders across several states are groaning under the weight of fresh increases in cement prices, with a bag now selling between N10,500 and N11,000 in many parts of the country.

Market surveys conducted in Kwara, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa and other northern states indicate that the upward review has become widespread, cutting across major brands and leaving household builders, block makers and contractors struggling to adjust their budgets.

In Ilorin and other parts of Kwara State, cement that previously sold for around N9,300 to N9,700 per bag last month now averages between N10,500 and N10,700 depending on the brand and location.

At major building material hubs in the state capital, a bag of Dangote Cement which earlier sold for about N9,500 now goes for between N10,500 and N10,600.

Similarly, BUA Cement has risen from roughly N9,500–N9,600 to about N10,600–N10,700.

Lafarge Africa products are also being sold within the same N10,600 to N10,700 range, while Mangal Cement, which was the most affordable at about N9,300–N9,400, now sells for between N10,500 and N10,600.

Traders attribute the development to what they describe as rising supply chain costs and increased production expenses.

However, consumers say the explanations offer little comfort as the new prices are stretching already tight budgets.

An Ilorin-based dealer, who operates under the name Orire Cement, confirmed that customers have been complaining bitterly about the hike.

“Sales have dropped because people cannot afford to buy in large quantities again. Even those who buy trucks of 900 bags are reconsidering because the total cost has increased significantly,” she said.

In Abuja, the situation is similar. A market survey in Utako and other building materials markets showed that BUA cement is currently selling at about N11,200 per bag in some locations.

Dangote cement is selling at N10,800 in Utako market, while other outlets offer it at N11,000.

Dealers said that customers who purchase an entire truckload of Dangote cement can still secure it at around N10,500 per bag, but such bulk discounts are beyond the reach of many small-scale builders.

A dealer in Abuja explained that transportation, loading charges and distributor margins further widen the gap between ex-factory prices and what end-users eventually pay.

Dealers, middle men blamed for increase in Lagos

The sudden increase in cement prices in Lagos has sparked outrage among builders, contractors, block makers and consumers.

The price of a 50kg bag of cement rose from around N9000 in December 2025 to N10,000 in January 2026 and now to N11,500 in recent times, leaving many to wonder who is behind the steep hike.

Our correspondent who visited some cement sellers in the state discovered that sellers are pointing fingers at dealers, and middle men, accusing them of hiking prices arbitrarily.

They told our correspondent that the exorbitant markups are not justified, considering that the manufacturers’ prices have not changed significantly.

“We buy cement from middle men and dealers and not directly from manufacturers. The dealers and middle men buy at a reasonable price, but turn around to inflate the prices,” said Ikechukwu Anthony, a cement seller in the Ojo area of Lagos.

“They claim that the prices have increased due to transportation costs and other expenses, but we know that’s not true,” he added.

Another seller, who identified himself as Ibrahim Ojo, at Mowo area of Badagry also blamed dealers and middle men for the price hike.

The dealers, however, have remained tight-lipped about the price increase, fueling speculation that they may be behind the hike.


Dealers lament in Kano

In Kano, cement dealers are equally lamenting the trend as the benchmark price has effectively shifted to N10,500 and above.

Alhaji Nasiru Awwalu Mustapha, a BUA cement dealer in Maidile quarters, Kumbotso Local Government Area, said manufacturers are now supplying to dealers at N10,500 and above.

“BUA is giving us N10,500. Dangote is N10,450 while Mangal is N10,550 per bag. By the time we add transport and other expenses, retail prices go to N10,800 or N11,000,” he said.

He expressed concern that the frequent adjustments are affecting demand and slowing down building activities.

“Customers complain every day. Some have suspended their projects. We are not happy either because when prices go up too fast, sales volume drops,” he added.

Another dealer, Sani Maigemu, corroborated Mustapha’s position, saying the development has created uncertainty in the market.

According to him, cement companies have cited taxes and other statutory obligations as part of the reasons for the new pricing structure.

Block makers are already feeling the ripple effects. Aminu Inuwa, a block maker in Kano, said they now buy cement from dealers at N10,800 to N10,900 depending on the brand.

“Mangal is about N10,900, while BUA and Dangote are around N10,800. Because of this, we have increased the price of blocks. A nine-inch special block that was N750 is now N800,” he said.

He noted that if cement prices continue to rise, further increases in block prices may become inevitable.

Checks in Kaduna revealed that BUA cement is selling at N10,900, while Dangote and Mangal are priced at around N10,800. In Jigawa State, dealers confirmed that cement now sells for as high as ₦11,000 per bag.

In Zaria, however, some dealers said Sokoto cement, BUA and Dangote were still available at about N10,200, offering slight relief compared to other cities.

Cross-border price difference

Beyond domestic complaints, some dealers raised concerns about cross-border price differentials.

Mustapha claimed that Nigerian cement manufacturers supply dealers in neighbouring countries at lower rates when converted to naira.

A Nigerian resident in Niamey, Niger Republic, Muazzamu Sani, told our correspondent that BUA cement sells at the equivalent of about N7,500 per bag in the Nigerien capital, although prices vary by location.

Explaining the calculation, he said a bag costs “Jakka uku” (three thousand CFA francs), and with an estimated conversion of about N2,500 per 1,000 CFA francs, the total comes to roughly N7,500.

The claim has fueled frustration among some dealers who argue that local consumers should not pay more than buyers in neighbouring countries.

However, industry observers caution that cross-border pricing often reflects differences in tax regimes, transport logistics, exchange rates and market strategies.

They also point out that manufacturers may offer export incentives or promotional pricing in certain markets, which does not necessarily reflect the full cost structure in Nigeria.

For many households, the immediate concern is the impact on housing affordability. With inflation already eroding purchasing power, the additional N1,000 to N1,500 increase per bag represents a substantial jump in total project costs.

A modest two-bedroom bungalow can require hundreds of bags of cement from foundation to roofing stage. An increase of N1,000 per bag could therefore translate into hundreds of thousands of naira in additional expenditure.

A stakeholder in the built industry who spoke with Daily Trust expressed concerns over the increase saying this is not good for the economy and the construction industry.

The implication, he stated, would be that the number of houses being built would reduce.

The stakeholder, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Builders, Kunle Awobodu said, “What we are hearing is that the prices of cement are cheaper in the neighbouring countries which means there would be reduction in smuggling.

“Naturally one will not expect cement prices to become very unbearable. Purchasing power is highly affected. Today, on Victoria Island, two major ready mixed companies had no cement to produce and the cement price was high when a bag of cement climbed to N11,000 and N11,500.

“It is not good for the economy. It is not an encouragement for development, it doesn’t help the construction industry in Nigeria because when purchasing power is low and prices of building materials continue to skyrocket, it would result in fewer buildings being constructed.”

Awobodu called on the federal government to intervene, adding, “We need to further interrogate the manufacturers to understand the reason things are like that despite the fact that we have abundance of limestone which is the major raw materials for cement. The government needs to intervene to see if there are areas they could be of assistance to the manufacturers in order to make the price affordable.”

For now, consumers, dealers and builders alike are navigating a market where N10,500 has become the new floor price, and N11,000 is increasingly common.

As one frustrated builder in Ilorin put it, “Every time we adjust to a price, it changes again. Planning has become very difficult.”

An official of one of the cement manufacturers who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity however said the price increase is not peculiar to a particular manufacturer, blaming it on importation of some materials which are priced in dollars.

“I believe with the dollar coming down, very soon the price will come down,” he stated.

Militants linked to the Islamic State are increasingly active in Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states, turning remote transit corridors into conflict zones.

A report by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project, published on Thursday, shows violent incidents involving Islamist groups in the tri‑border area rose 86% between 2024 and 2025, while fatalities linked to these attacks increased by 262%.

The findings highlight the accelerating spread of jihadist groups across West Africa, where governments and foreign militaries have struggled for more than a decade to contain their advance.


What the data is saying

ACLED noted that fighters aligned with al Qaeda and Islamic State have deepened their presence across the region, including Benin’s Alibori and Borgou departments, Niger’s Dosso region, and Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states.

The report describes their operations as demonstrating “continued spread, growing lethality, and rising risks to civilians.”

“When comparing 2024 and 2025, the number of violent events involving jihadist groups in the borderland regions of Benin’s Alibori and Borgou departments; Niger’s Dosso department; and Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states rose by 86%, and the related fatalities increased by 262% . This pattern of violence illustrates a combination of continued spread, growing lethality, and risks to civilians in the regions concerned.”

Communication by jihadist groups in the tri‑border zone has intensified, ACLED said, suggesting competition and potential escalation between rival factions.

Sparse governance and porous borders in frontier regions have long enabled militants to evade security forces, resupply fighters, and assert control over local communities.

ACLED’s data underscores the increasingly lethal and coordinated nature of jihadist activity in northwest Nigeria and neighboring regions.

Get up to speed
Nigeria has contended with Islamist insurgents for more than 15 years, primarily Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast.

However, al Qaeda and Islamic State‑affiliated cells have become more active in the northwest, where dense forests and limited state presence provide favourable terrain.

West Africa hosts a patchwork of jihadist factions, many operating under al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) or Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP).
Their expansion has exacerbated political instability, contributing to military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020, with soldiers in Benin blaming insecurity for a failed coup attempt in December 2025.
The U.S. conducted airstrikes in Sokoto state in December and has deployed a small number of troops to train Nigerian forces confronting these militants.

Regional coordination has weakened in recent years, as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali—now governed by military juntas—have partially withdrawn from regional security blocs, hampering joint counterterrorism operations.

More insights

The ACLED report highlights that jihadist groups are increasingly vying for influence and control in frontier regions.

The report warns that continued “outbidding” between factions could further escalate violence and threaten civilians across the tri‑border area.
Remote areas in the northwest remain particularly vulnerable due to weak governance, porous borders, and limited security infrastructure.

The spike in attacks reflects broader trends of jihadist expansion in the Sahel and coastal West Africa, with growing implications for regional stability.

What you should know

In October 2025, US President Donald Trump threatened military action against Nigeria and accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of allowing the mass slaughter of Christians.

Earlier this month, Kwara State witnessed one of its deadliest attacks in 2026, when armed bandits stormed Woro village, killing at least 35 people.

In November, Tinubu directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, ordering that these personnel be redeployed to core policing duties.

Terrorists Attack Mosque In Kebbi Community, Kill Four Worshippers, Injure Several Others

Terrorists suspected to be members of the Lakurawa group have launched a deadly attack on a mosque in Dadinkowa town, located in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing four worshippers instantly and leaving several others injured.

SaharaReporters gathered that the gunmen carried out the assault during prayers, storming the mosque while worshippers were gathered and opening fire indiscriminately inside the house of worship.

SaharaReporters learnt that the attackers arrived in the community heavily armed and moved straight to the mosque, where they unleashed terror on unsuspecting worshippers.

Meanwhile, four people were killed on the spot inside the mosque. Others were hit by bullets.

According to sources within the community, four worshippers died instantly from gunshot wounds sustained during the attack. Several others were said to have suffered varying degrees of injuries, ranging from critical to minor gunshot wounds.

A source in the community explained that the injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities for urgent medical attention.

However, as of the time of filing this report, the exact number of those wounded had not been officially confirmed by authorities.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies regarding the incident.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu, on Wednesday, said no individual, including President Bola Tinubu, owns the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kalu said this in Umuahia while addressing the APC stakeholders during its ward congress in Abia.

He urged them to embrace unity and cohesion towards the party’s success in the 2027 elections, saying the party belongs to all its members.

Kalu, who is the APC leader in Abia, said the party’s focus was to eliminate internal divisions and “build a united front, anchored on discipline, inclusion, and purpose”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party had rescheduled its Ward and Local Government congresses for February 25 and February 26 after resolving its internal conflict.

The party had affirmed its commitment to unity, expansion, and preparation for the 2027 General Elections.

Kalu explained that the earlier congress was cancelled because there were multiple forms in the state against the directive of the national leadership of the party.

He said the leadership decided that there was no need to do any other congress than that, which it believed would strengthen the party’s cohesion.

Kalu said: “It is nothing else but a congress of harmonisation. And harmonisation is where stakeholders are given a sense of belonging in deciding who will lead from their ward to their local government, as well as the state.

“It is where everybody is given a sense of importance, of relevance, where it will be made obvious that no one man will own the party, not Benjamin Kalu, not anybody. That is the vision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When I met with him, he said, I can’t even say my party, I like saying our party.”

In a remark, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Emmanuel Goar, promised a peaceful and transparent congress, while urging the stakeholders to cooperate with the committee.

He said the committee, as constituted by the national leadership of the party, would conduct a “congress of harmonisation” as agreed by the people.

Goar, the former Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly and former member, House of Representatives, said the national committee would work with the state committee to ensure a successful congress.

NAN further reports that forms were later distributed for the conduct of the congress across the 184 wards in the state.

The party will also hold its Local Government congress on Thursday, February 26.