6th November, 2014
Distributors of Cement and block makers in Ilorin on Thursday expressed mixed feelings about the new prices of Dangote cement in the country.
NAN reports that Dangote Cement Plc, recently announced a reduction of the prices of its cement products.
According to the company, the Dangote 32.5 cement grade was pegged to N1, 000 per 50kg bag, while the higher 42.5 grade was reduced to N1, 150 per 50kg bag.
Alhaji Ahmed Folorunsho, a distributor of Dangote Cement in Ilorin, told NAN that he had not sold his old stock of the cement and so, it would be difficult for him to sell at the new prices.
“The price of Dangote cement in my store has not changed because there is no way I will sell at the new price as I did not buy it at that price, I bought it at N1, 650,” Folorunsho said.
He said that the slash in price had negative impact on his business as the sale of the product had drastically reduced.
Mr Michael Opeyemi, a distributor at Lafarge cement depot in Ilorin, also lamented that sales had dropped since the announcement of the new price regime.
“People are taking their time in buying cement now since the announcement, I think they are waiting for the new price to take effect; I do not know how we are going to dispose of the old stocks now,” Opeyemi said.
However, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, a block maker, commended the price slash and urged distributors to comply with the new prices.
“It is a good development.The price reduction might lower the prices of blocks and make the commodity more afordable to people.
“It will also mean that people could build more houses for rent and private use, and that will boost our business,” Oladipo said.