The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised concerns over possible price manipulation and other anti-competitive practices in Nigeria’s cement industry.
The concerns followed a three-month investigation by the commission’s Anticompetitive Practices Department, which examined the domestic cement market and compared it with markets in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria.
According to the FCCPC, the probe was launched following concerns over the rising cost of cement despite Nigeria’s large limestone deposits, significant production capacity and reported excess capacity.
The commission said three major cement manufacturers account for more than 90 per cent of the country’s installed production capacity.
It noted that cement prices in Nigeria rose significantly in the first half of 2026, from about N9,300–N9,700 per bag in January to between N13,000 and N15,000 in some parts of the country by July.
The FCCPC said Nigeria has an estimated installed cement production capacity of more than 60 million to 65 million metric tonnes annually, compared with domestic consumption of about 25 million to 30 million tonnes.
Industry operators have attributed the high prices to rising energy costs, naira depreciation, transportation expenses and the increased cost of imported machinery and spare parts.
However, the commission said it is examining these explanations against verified data on production costs, pricing and market conditions.
The FCCPC said the next phase of the investigation would determine whether cement prices are justified by legitimate costs or whether there is evidence of coordinated conduct, abuse of market power, restrictions on domestic supply or other violations of competition law.
The commission has issued notices of investigation and summonses to key industry players, requiring them to provide records on pricing, production, capacity utilisation, exports and commercial relationships.
FCCPC Executive Vice-Chairman, Tunji Bello, said the investigation was necessary because cement prices have a direct impact on housing, infrastructure development and the wider cost of doing business.
He stressed that the probe was not intended to interfere with legitimate business decisions but to determine whether the market is operating competitively and protecting consumers.
