Cement dealers and customers have decried the increment in the price of cement by BUA Cement Plc in Kano markets.
The cement company has reportedly increased the ex-factory price of its product by N200, jerking the price from N2, 800 to N3,000 per bag at the weekend.
This development has fueled fears among dealers and customers across the state.
The company earlier debunked reports of increment in the prices of its products in various statements released between April 24 and June 18 this year.
The stakeholders are concerned that with the company’s N200 hike, the commodity would soon skyrocket from its present N3,600 to N3, 800 per bag.
Findings on Wednesday in Kano indicated that the increment would worsen the existing economic hardship on them.
A cement dealer in Kano, Musa Shehu, said he heard about the increase in the price of the commodity but it has not come down to the sellers so far.
According to him, a bag of cement is still sold at N3,550 and N3,600 so far, expressing fear that the increase would soon be effecttive.
He pointed out that the price increase is now at the level of dealers, noting that it would come down to the retailers level and would discourage customers from buying it.
Shehu stated that the increase in the price of the BUA cement by N200 would indeed inflict hardship on buyers and sellers all together, noting that the commodity is now available but if the stock runs out, the price increase would definitely be effective.
“Yes, we heard that the BUA cement company has increased N200 on the price of cement. But, for now, the price of the commodity is still N3,600.
Another retailer, Auwalu Umar, noted that cement normally becomes available and cheaper during rainy season, especially in northern Nigeria, lamenting that the BUA cement company should not have increased the price in the wake of economic hardship.
Another major dealer of BUA cement in Kano, who preferred not to be mentioned, expressed anger over the development.
