In January 2026, the price of a 50kg bag of cement rose to about ₦10,500, up from around ₦9,800 in December 2025. This is an increase of about ₦1,000, or over 7 percent. The new prices are already in effect in places like Abuja, Nassarawa, Niger State, and other parts of the country, depending on location.

This rise comes even though Nigeria has large deposits of raw materials for cement in places like Obajana in Kogi State and Okpella in Edo State. It also goes against earlier promises by major cement producers, including Dangote and BUA, who had said prices would not go above ₦7,000 per bag.

Higher cement prices mean higher building costs. This is likely to push house rents even higher. Already, the rent for a self-contained apartment in cities like Abuja and Lagos has jumped from about ₦400,000 to around ₦800,000 per year. At the same time, the cost of living keeps rising, with inflation reaching 15.15 percent in December 2025.

The former president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Alhaji Aliyu Oroji Wamakko, has warned that the price increase could harm property development and lead to job losses. According to him, when construction costs rise, rents also go up, and some businesses in the building sector may be forced to close.

He recalled that last year, when cement prices first hit around ₦10,000, the Presidency invited major producers, who then promised to reduce prices to ₦7,000. He said it is unclear why prices are rising again and noted that the government and the Price Control Board have not explained or acted on the situation.

Wamakko said factors such as high demand from road construction, the use of cement in place of other materials, exchange rate changes, and reliance on imported chemicals and equipment could be pushing prices up. He called for a full review of the cement pricing system to find the real causes and provide long-term solutions.