By Olusegun Olanrewaju
The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, yesterday commended people of the South-East for their calmness in abstaining from the series of protests against President Bola Tinubu over the economic hardship across the country.
He said the South-East has always suffered government neglect since the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari till now.
He urged Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference amid the hardship confronting Nigeria.
In a statement he signed, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze said, “In the wake of nationwide uproar and agitation sparked by escalating living costs, economic distress, and famine, a resolute calmness emanates from the Old Eastern Nigeria, comprising the South-East and South-South region.
“The striking serenity and resolute silence amidst the prevalent anger and upheaval in the North and Southwest have left many, including the Presidency and the North, astounded.
“The preeminent Igbo socio-cultural organisation and unwavering advocate for the Igbo people, commends the citizens of the Old Eastern region, particularly the South-East, for their exceptional acumen and sagacity in abstaining from spearheading protests against President Tinubu and the Federal Government amid economic hardships.
“Since the inception of the Buhari regime in 2015 to the current Tinubu administration, the South-East has borne the brunt of governmental neglect and discrimination.
“Whether it be the centre’s exclusions, the wanton demolition of Igbo properties in Lagos without federal intervention, the systematic burning of Igbo markets in the South-West, minimal federal ministerial appointments, or the unjust incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu juxtaposed with the favoured treatment of figures like Sowore and Igboho, the injustices meted out to the Sout-East are glaring.
“As protests surge in Niger, Kano, Lagos, Osun, and Abuja, the absence of casualties or protester killings resulting from security intervention starkly contrasts with the haunting memories of South-Eastern lives lost during past protests against Kanu’s detainment and the tragic Obigbo (Oyibo) massacre in Rivers State.
“Ohanaeze stands in awe of the Southeast populace for their undaunted bravery and rare insight in weathering the storm. We stand in solidarity with all suffering Igbo and Nigerians, urging the Federal Government to overhaul President Tinubu’s floundering economic team with competent hands to salvage the crumbling economy before it collapses completely.
“Moreover, instead of issuing hollow threats to disillusioned citizens, the government should heed the voices of reason and implement the recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference to quell the mounting dissent and rebellion.”
President of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria ( REDAN), Dr. Aliyu Oroji Wamakko yesterday said the recent increase in prices of cement further threatening infrastructural development and worsening the housing deficit in the country.
Worried by the increment of cement to almost N15,000 par 50kg bag , Dr. Wammako said with increased budget allocations to critical sectors and ambitious infrastructure initiatives (N1.32 trillion to infrastructure, which represents 5.0 percent of the total Federal Government’s 2024 budget), the construction industry is likely to experience a decrease.
Last week, a 50 kilograms bag of cement in the Federal Capital Territory has surged between N10,000 and N15,000.
Dr. Wammako decried the current price of N15, 000 a bag of cement said despite a slash in prices from BUA Cement Plc in October 2023, cement price still went up.
According to the REDAN President, “On Sunday, October 1, 2023, the management of BUA Cement announced a slash of the ex-factory price of a bag of cement by 36 per cent to N3,500 from N5,500, promising to review the price upon completion of the new plants, expected to increase its production volumes to 17 million metric tons per annum.
“The BUA Group’s chairman, Abdul-Samad Rabiu, had told President Bola Tinubu that his company was increasing its production capacity by inaugurating two new cement plants at the end of 2023 or early 2024 to enable it to flood the nation’s markets with the product.
“We are begging the Federal Government through the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ach. Dangiwa Musa to urgently call a stakeholder meeting as he has promised to do within two weeks, else construction in our various sites may be put on hold because of the raising increases in the cement price.
According to the REDAN President, “The increase in prices of building materials is compounding the woes of the housing sector.
We want the Federal Government to initiate policies that could ameliorate challenges, especially those fostered by exchange rate to boost supply and accessibility to affordable housing.
“And again, in active construction sites in Lagos, Ogun, Port Harcourt, Kano, Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo states, the high price of essential materials is impacting project schedules, thereby slowing down construction activities. Many are abandoning sites waiting for better days. Developer, who had expended N50 million to construct a building last November, would end up spending about N100 million for the same type of project due to inflation.”
“We want to appreciate the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Ach. Musa Dangiwa who has already decried the astronomical rise in the price of cement and other building materials across the country, we urge him to quickly find a lasting solution to this situation.
A market survey conducted on Friday in Gwarimpa, Area 10, Kubwa, Lugbe and Dawaki showed that a 50kg bag of Dangote cement is N10,000 and BUA cement stood at N15,000.
A retailer in Gwarimpa, Yinka Adebayo, said that the price of Dangote cement is N10,000 while that of BUA is N15,000.
He said he sold a bag of cement for N6,000 in January 2023.
