The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has revealed possible manipulation of prices of cement in the Nigerian market.

This was the preliminary summation of the 40-page field reports collated following a three-month cross-border study by the Anticompetitive Practices Department (ACP) of the Commission.

The development was undertaken in response to widespread public complaints over the high cost of cement, a common staple in the country’s construction industry.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the investigation reflected the Commission’s responsibility to examine market conditions that have significant consequences for consumers and the wider economy.

He said cement occupied a strategic place in the Nigerian economy and its price affects the cost of building a home, developing commercial property, delivering public infrastructure and the cost of doing business.

“When concerns persist about how such an important market is functioning, the Commission has a duty to look beyond assumptions and establish the facts,” Bello said.

He explained that competition scrutiny was not intended to dictate the commercial decisions of businesses.

Bello said it purpose was to determine whether the market was functioning competitively and whether consumers were receiving the benefits that effective competition should provide.

“Businesses are entitled to make legitimate commercial decisions and earn returns on their investments.

“Competition law does not prevent that. Its purpose is to protect the competitive process, so that prices, output and other market outcomes are determined by genuine competition rather than conduct that unlawfully restricts it,” he said.

He said in spite the country’s substantial limestone deposits, significant domestic production capacity and reported surplus installed capacity relative to domestic consumption.

“Publicly available estimates indicate that three major undertakings account for more than 90 percent of installed production capacity in the country.

“The ACP investigations extended to markets in Sub-Saharan Africa like Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa as well as Egypt, Morocco and Algeria.

“Metrics adopted included the availability of limestone, the basic raw material for cement production, as well as other variables such as population, production capacity and consumption.

“In Kenya, for instance, the 58.6 million population (76% lower than Nigeria’s) has domestic cement demand of approximately 9.3m MTPA (metric tonne per annum) in 2025. Retail price in Nairobi is $5.40 (N7,344). Kenya is endowed with limestone.

“In Tanzania, with population of 66.3m (72% lower than Nigeria’s) and the domestic cement demand is 9.3m MTPA (2025), a bag of cement sells for $4.80 (N6,528).

“In Togo, a bag sells for $6.75 (N9,180). Significantly, Togo does not have limestone deposit.

“Comparatively, in Nigeria, market intelligence reviewed by the Commission shows that the retail price of a 50kg bag of cement rose significantly during the first half of 2026,” he said.

He said cement bag reportedly selling for between N9,300 and N9,700 in January was selling for between N10,500 and N13,000 by mid-year. By July, prices of between N13,000 and N15,000 were reported in some parts of the country.

The director said the commission’s survey indicated that Nigeria had installed cement production capacity of more than 60 to 65 million metric tonnes annually.

According to him, domestic consumption is approximately 25 to 30 million metric tonnes.

He said Nigeria was also a net exporter of cement to neighbouring markets.

Accordingly to him, the FCCPC has issued Notices of Commencement of Investigation and Summons to Produce to the key players in the sector.

He said the companies were required to provide information and records relating to, among other matters, their pricing methodologies, production and capacity utilisation, exports and relevant commercial relationships.