The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) says the increase in the price of cement is one of the factors responsible for incessant building collapses in the country.
Sadiq Abubakar, president of COREN, spoke on Monday when he appeared before the house of representatives joint committee on solid minerals, industry, commerce, and special duties.
The joint committee is investigating the “arbitrary” increase in the prices of cement by manufacturers.
In March, the house of representatives mandated the joint committee on solid minerals development, commerce, industry, and special duties to investigate the “arbitrary” increase in the prices of cement by manufacturers.
At the time, the price of cement reached a record high, fluctuating between N8,000 and N10,000 per bag.
Abubakar said the rise in the price of cement is directly linked to the decline in the standard of building construction in the country.
“You will agree with me that it is one of the key culprits of building collapse. I am trying to connect the hike in the price of cement with the standardisation of our building and the direct connection of building collapse. Clearly, there is a connection with that, and I think this is something we must interrogate,” Abubakar said.
Gaza Gbwefi, chairman of the committee, said the price of cement has to be affordable for Nigerians for the development of the country. “Anything that has to do with livelihood should be treated as an emergency,” the lawmaker said.
Gbewfi said the rise in cement prices has had a detrimental impact on the building environment and is responsible for the increase in tenancy rates.
He summoned the chairperson of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, who failed to appear before the committee.
The committee also quizzed the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NIBRID) and the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Council (FCCPC) for their insufficient efforts in safeguarding cement consumers.
