Nigeria: David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has asked that cement producers reduce their prices. He warned that the current cost of cement is making infrastructure projects difficult and the government is being forced to continually adjust project contracts, according to the Punch newspaper. The government is preparing to start formal engagements with cement companies from 1 July 2026 on the issue. Umahi made the comments while giving a keynote address at the rebranding of Lafarge Africa as HBM Nigeria.
In a statement Umahi said “I want to insist that Lafarge, now HBM Nigeria, and other manufacturers of cement, should reduce their prices. We shall be engaging on this from 1 July 2026. Manufacturers of cement must reduce their prices because the contractors are urging me to review their contracts. But nobody is reviewing anybody’s contract. It’s the manufacturers of cement that should review their cost.” He added that reducing cement prices would both support the delivery of infrastructure projects and benefit citizens who use cement for domestic construction projects. He also urged cement companies to increase their production capacity to support government projects.
