Despite the Federal Government agreement reached with manufacturers that cement should be sold for ₦7,000, the product is still being sold for between ₦10,000 and ₦11,000 at Idimu area of Lagos State.

A retailer, simply identified as Alhaja, said the agreement news that cement should sell for ₦7,000 by the Federal Government is just a hoax.

According to her, the management of Dangote Cement blocked all payment portals while negotiations were on with the Federal Government, and by the time it was reopened, the price was hiked again.

She said: “Even BUA cement which previously announced his cement price at the rate of ₦3,500 was the first to hike prices. In fact, the Dangote payment portal was blocked last week, only for them to reopen it and the price was increased by another ₦400, noting all the noise of ₦7,000 is just in the media, it’s not real.

“Alhaja in her voice pray and hope it is effected soon enough because this price hike is really slowing down business.”

Another outlet did not have any stock on the ground. The owner, who pleaded for anonymity, corroborated Alhaja.

He said: “At this point, I don’t know what else to do. Cement is off-limit for now because I don’t even know how to restock. The N7,000 price being bandied in the news is unreal. The price was increased by N400 after manufacturers met with the government. We just hope things return to normal as soon as possible.”