The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives probing the arbitrary increase in cement prices expressed disappointment with the agency for failing to protect cement customers in accordance with the agency’s Establishment Act.
The committee also issued a final summons to the Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria for failing to comply with its invitation for the second time.
The committee stated that the court order obtained by the group has not deterred them.
Jonathan Gaza, Chairman of the Joint Committee, issued the final warning to the association and other key parties during the resumption of the investigative hearing on Monday at the National Assembly.
The sudden hike in the price of cement has become a source of worry to Nigerians in the last six months. The price of 50kg of the building commodity which was sold around N5,000 till last December rose astronomically by over 100% earlier in the year, attracting government’s intervention.
In February, cement manufacturers agreed to bring down the price of the product to between N7,000 and N8,000 per 50kg depending on the location nationwide but the price of the basic construction material has remain pricey, sparking increase in house rents.