Onitsha residents decry high cost of building materials, houses

SOME residents of Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra, have decried the high costs of building materials, saying it has also increased the cost of building houses.

The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha on Tuesday that the price of most building materials had increased by at least 70 per cent.

Mr John Okeche, who deals on Pop ceiling materials at the Building Materials International Market, Ogidi near Onitsha, said that the prices of most materials had increased compared to last year.

“Moulder Three, which was sold at N3, 500 is now N4, 800; ABS was sold at N3,300 is now N3,850 while extra white which was sold at N3,300 is now N3,700.

“Most of these materials are manufactured in France; from my understanding, the high cost of the materials is as a result of the exchange rate of naira to dollars,” he said.

Okeche said that the number of customers who patronised him had also reduced as a result of the development.

Mr Izuchukwu Onunkwo, who sells plumbing materials, said that the high cost of importing raw materials for production of plumbing materials and inadequate power supply had affected production and the selling prices of items.

“For instance, bend that was sold at N350 in 2016 now sells for N800 each.

“People now prefer to pay for low standard products rather than high quality ones because their money can only afford such low quality products.

Mr Chidi Onwumelu, who deals on Niger pipe PVC and other general plumbing materials said that four inches Niger pipe PVC at last year sold for N980 but now sells at N1, 650.

Onwumelu said that Water Closet (WC) which sold for N9, 500 now goes for N11, 500 and four inches bend previously sold for N350 is now N800.

“Before, we used to load and fill these items in a lorry but now we can’t even afford to fill a lorry because the prices have gone so high.

“The Federal Government should intensify its campaign on corruption and efforts to control the value of the naira to dollar,” he added.

Mr Chuks Obidigwe, a dealer on Spanish tiles urged the Federal Government to ensure that the exchange rate of naira to dollar dropped to at least N300.

“Possibly, if government can return the dollar to its previous rate about two or three years ago, we will be happy.

“We don’t have patronage like before because of hunger; we work harder these days to feed and sustain our family,” he said.