Works minister, Umahi gives 1 week ultimatum to cement manufacturers to reduce price to #7000

By Usman David

The Minister of works David Umahi has issued one week ultimatum to all cement manufacturers in Nigeria to reduce from #9500 to #7000.

Umahi issued the directive during in a meeting with MTN and RCC Company Nig Ltd over the slow funding and execution of the Enugu-Onitsha  Expressway by MTN under the Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment (Tax Credit) Scheme, held at the  Ministry’s headquarters, Mabushi Abuja.

He tasked the contractors to stop using materials that could derail the quality outcome of the job, adding that anything short of this, amount to a sabotage of the projects of Mr. President in South East region.

According to him:”I’m happy that the policies of Mr.  President, are working. Today, a dollar is about N1,400. And let me use the opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the cost of cement.Our contractors have  called and complained  that they wanted to move back to asphalt. 

“We are using  this medium to tell the cement manufacturers that at the time, the dollar was almost N2,000, they increased cement from N7,500. Why should today that the President has brought dollar to stability to about N1400, and is still going down.

“why should cement be selling for N9,500? We are requesting cement manufacturers to bring down the cost of cement to N7,000. If after one week they don’t do that, I have to complain officially to Mr. President.” He stressed.