Builders mull high cement cost can compromise quality construction

The Nigerian Institute of Building,(NIOB) has expressed concern over the hike in cement prices, stressing the low purchasing power of Nigerians could lead to compromised quality in the construction industry.

In a statement issued by the institute, the NIOB President, Kunle Awobodu, called on government to step in quickly and save the nation from imminent danger of substandard building construction.

Awobodu lamented the recent price increase from N2,600 for a 50kg bag to N3,500, adding  that even at previous prices, Nigerians were confronted with the challenge of owning their homes and developing other infrastructure.

He explained that the price increases in the inputs of construction without corresponding increase in citizens’ purchasing power will reduce activities in the construction sector that are meant to rejuvenate the economy, translate to loss of jobs and its inter linkages.

The president pointed out that there would be many fluctuation claims with the potential for disputes and project abandonment, as well as a cycle of project failures when prices are beyond the reach of clients and developers.

Accordingly, he noted that it would increase the need for more vigilance and policing of the construction processes.

In his words “As an analogy, a country with sub normal conditions of living will battle with more crimes with the implications of spending more to police the society. It thus pays more to invest in improving the quality of living to reduce predisposition to crime.”

He charged the government to urgently address these macroeconomic issues to favour the overall economy, especially the construction industry, which has the potential to stimulate growth.

He appealed to cement manufacturers to take advantage of the nation’s population to crash costs, stressing that if these price increases and other macroeconomic variables are not addressed, the vision of housing many homeless Nigerians and the nation’s infrastructural revival will remain a mirage.

He also urged the government to address transportation and energy concerns further.