Cement monopoly is choking housing sector – Haven Homes

Speaking on the occasion of the unveiling of Haven Homes’ new Lekki Show Home in Lagos recently, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tayo Sonuga lamented that the price of cement has not only become exorbitant but the commodity has also become difficult to find.He said, “At the moment, only Dangote Cement and Lafarge Cement […]

Speaking on the occasion of the unveiling of Haven Homes’ new Lekki Show Home in Lagos recently, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tayo Sonuga lamented that the price of cement has not only become exorbitant but the commodity has also become difficult to find.
He said, “At the moment, only Dangote Cement and Lafarge Cement are consistently producing cement in the entire country. For a population of 160 million? That is not good enough, that sort of monopoly would make the product to be too expensive.
“Cement is too important to be left to the vagaries of private or public monopoly. You cannot build without cement so the government cannot remain silent about this matter. It calls for urgent action.
 “I really think the government should do something drastic and urgent about the cement market. In December 2013, a bag of cement sold for N1,650 but now it is selling for N2,200 per bag and yet we cannot even find it readily to buy, this is clearly not acceptable, so I would want the government to do something urgent about it,” he said.
Sonuga who said Nigeria needs about 18million units to bridge deficit gap, said the easy availability and affordability of cement cannot be overemphasized.
“If the government at the federal and state levels are truly sincere and determined in their resolve to address the housing problems of Nigerians, this is how they can show it by making cement not only cheap and affordable but also easily available.
“The enabling environment should be created for manufacturers of cement to source easily the ingredients they need to produce cement. They should be encouraged so that they will in turn produce cheaper and more affordable cement product,” he added.
Haven Homes at an impressive, well attended two-day event, unveiled its ultra modern Lekki Show Home at its Richmond Gate Estate, located of Meadow Hall Way, Ikate-Eleguishi in the Lekki Corridor.