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Cement prices provokes ‘war’ in Ondo

By Femi Makinde

One man’s quest to trade in cement according to his conscience has run against a royal brick wall as Femi Makinde reports. The recent hike in the price of cement has shattered the dreams of many Nigerians to own houses of their own.

File bags of cement

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The Federal Government took a step to bring down the price of the commodity, which has been described as the oxygen that drives the construction industry.

Despite this, some shylock dealers have vowed to ensure that the prices remain beyond the reach of the common man.

A group recently claimed that it discovered that it cost about N350 to import a 50kg bag of cement into Nigeria but the same commodity is being sold at between N1,700 and N1,800, for instance in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

However, an unattached dealer who does not belong to any association, decided to sell the product for N1,600 per bag.

This dealer, Mr. David Oluwole Alasoniyi, by his decision to sell at lower price than other dealers, incurred the wrath of his competitors.

This determination to sell at lower prices has pitted David against the cement Goliaths of Akure who are bent on milking dry anyone who dares to build.

To ensure a more exorbitant uniform price, Alasoniyi said that members of the Cement Dealers Association in Akure recently invited him to join the association. According to him, the motive of his competitors is to force him to hike the prices. He declined the invitation.

After some subtle threats and several overt attempts to coerce him into joining the association, Alasoniyi said he was then asked to raise his prices, even if he did not want to be a member. But he still refused.

The association then dragged him before the Deji of Akure, Oba Oluwadare Adesina Adepoju.

On getting to the palace, the accusers, who are members of association numbering almost 100, told the Deji that Alasoniyi (who is not an indigene of Akure) had refused to join their association and that he was selling cement at a ridiculous price, which they claimed, had forced many “young dealers” to close their shops.

They argued that Alasoniyi sold even below company price and asked the monarch to order the ‘culprit’ to hike his price.

To spice their intention, one of the leaders of the group who was identified as ‘Black Terror,’ said that Alasoniyi had once vowed that he would never join the association because he was not an indigene of Akure and that he was not bound by any Akure law

But Alasoniyi appeared unruffled. He was alone in this battle except for his wife who was busy praying for divine intervention. Alasoniyi’s lone voice was often drowned by the voices of his accusers. But he remained adamant, insisting that he would not yield to threats or suasions to ‘unjustly’ hike his selling price.

Explaining to the Oba during his ‘trial’ he said that he made enough profit selling at N1,600 per bag and saw no reason to jack up the price.

He said that others were also free to sell at between N1,700 and N1,800 or any prices they deemed fit. According to him, most of his accusers sell rebagged and adulterated cement despite selling at exorbitant prices.

But he said that he refused to join the association because he wanted to assist people in the little way he could.

He said, “ It can be verified, some of these people have been previously arrested by Consumer Protection Committee for selling rebagged.

“Most of them sell 36kg in 50kg bags despite selling at higher price.” Alasoniyi who sells at Fiwasaye Area of Akure, alleged that some members of the association recently organised some hoodlums who robbed a truck that brought his consignment to his shop.

He emphasised that he was ready to sell at a lower price provided there’s price reductionfrom the factory. He urged the monarch to ask the members of the association to let him to do his business the way he deemed fit.

The Deji, delivering his verdict, told the ‘plaintiffs’ that they could not compel Alasoniyi to join their association.

But he also asked the ‘defendant’ to choose between selling in bulk or retail. This order shocked Alasoniyi who countered by saying that there was no law restraining him to choose either to sell in bulk or retail.

To give the Oba a soft landing, he requested that the Kabiyesi give him some time to go and think about which one to choose. But the Deji insisted on an instant answer.

Alasoniyi grudgingly chose to sell retail but insisted that he would not remove billboard where he boldly displayed his selling price.

Then came the much awaited final verdict: Alasoniyi was ordered by the Deji who spoke in Yoruba, to raise his price in order to ensure that they all remained in the business.

The verdict elicited joy from the camp of the dealers while Alasoniyi and his wife went home in anger.

A week has passed after the Deji’s verdict, still Alasoniyi has refused to remove the signboard and our correspondent who visited his shop on Thursday observed that he had even reduced the price to N1,580. However, only time will tell how long he can withstand the multitude of Goliaths ranged against him.