The surge in building collapses in the country has been linked to the arbitrary rise in cement prices by manufacturers, as highlighted by Sadiq Abubakar, the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.
Abubakar made these assertions during an investigative hearing organized by the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Solid Minerals, Industry, Commerce, and Special Duties to investigate the recent spike in cement prices.
During the hearing, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Gaza Gbewfi, representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency, Nasarawa State, summoned David Iweta, Chairman of the Cement Producers Association of Nigeria for questioning regarding the price increase. Iweta, who failed to appear at the hearing, had previously declined two invitations from the committee.
The committee emphasized that the association should refrain from using frivolous court injunctions to obstruct its proceedings, as guaranteed by the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
Abubakar stressed the correlation between cement price hikes and building collapses, underscoring the need to examine this connection closely.
Gbewfi echoed Abubakar's sentiments, noting that the escalating cost of cement has also led to a surge in housing rents nationwide. He emphasized the urgency of addressing issues affecting livelihoods as critical emergencies.
The joint committee further interrogated representatives from the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute and the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Council on the arbitrary price increments.
Gbewfi criticized the FCCPC representative, Boladale Adeyinka, for what he perceived as inadequate efforts to safeguard consumers of cement in line with the agency's mandate, remarking, "You are a mother that has forgotten your children."
