Nigerians are bracing for fresh economic pain as the prices of cement produced by Dangote, Mangal and other manufacturers surged sharply in January 2026, deepening the country’s housing and cost-of-living crisis.
The News Chronoicle observed that a 50kg bag of cement now sells for as high as ₦10,500, up from about ₦9,800 in December 2025 — a jump of roughly ₦1,000 or 7.1 per cent per bag.
The new prices have taken effect across Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger and several other states, with variations depending on location.
The latest hike comes despite Nigeria’s vast natural deposits for cement production in areas such as Obajana in Kogi State and Okpella in Edo State. It also contradicts earlier assurances by major industry players that cement prices would not exceed ₦7,000 per bag.
Industry watchers warn that the increase will further push housing costs “through the roof,” compounding the hardship faced by renters.
According to findings by The News Chronicle, the annual rent for self-contained apartments has jumped by over 100 per cent, rising to about ₦800,000 from roughly ₦400,000, particularly in major urban centres such as Abuja and Lagos.
Critics say the Federal Government has so far shown little urgency in addressing the spiralling cost of rent and the broader cost-of-living crisis. In December 2025, Nigeria’s inflation rate climbed to 15.15 per cent, up from 14.45 per cent the previous month.
Reacting to the development, former president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Alhaji Aliyu Oroji Wamakko, expressed deep concern over the continued rise in cement prices, warning that it poses a serious threat to property development, housing affordability and employment.
Wamakko said escalating construction costs would inevitably drive up rents and could force many businesses in the construction value chain to shut down, leading to widespread job losses.
He recalled that last year, cement producers such as Dangote and BUA were summoned by the Presidency after prices climbed to about ₦10,000 per bag, noting that the companies reportedly promised to slash prices to around ₦7,000.
“Now, we don’t even know what happened or why the price is rising again. The government has kept quiet. Nobody is saying anything,” he said.
Wamakko also lamented the apparent inactivity of the Price Control Board, which he said should be monitoring and regulating price increases.
According to him, the situation has become so unpredictable that it is difficult to estimate how high cement prices could rise.
He attributed the surge to a combination of factors, including increased demand from massive road construction projects, currency fluctuations, and Nigeria’s reliance on imported chemicals and equipment used in cement production.
Calling for urgent intervention, Wamakko urged the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the cement production and pricing system to uncover the root causes of the hikes and implement lasting solutions.
“If nothing is done, property development will slow down, rents will keep rising, and more Nigerians will lose their jobs,” he warned.
