The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised concern over soaring cost of cement in the country, even as it advised that the ban on Ibeto Cement ordered by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration should be lifted to reduce its cost.
This was contained in a press statement issued by the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful.
“Ibeto Group was selling cement at very low prices. Back then, prices of cement and other building materials were very affordable because of competition. Even civil and public servants with low minimum wages were able to build houses.
“But as soon as Ibeto and others were pushed out of business by the Nigerian Government, the price of cement started soaring out of the reach of the common man.
“Currently, a bag of cement is sold for almost N12,000, while 12mm of iron rod is sold at N13,000. These prices are outrageous because capitalists have the backings of the government through monopoly to reap people off. “If care is not taken, many Nigerians will become homeless in the next five years, while the capitalists will keep making more money.
“President Bola Almed Tinubu should shun tribal politics and suppressive policies by lifting the ban on Ibeto Cement for the sake of Nigerians. There is no need for the Nigerian government to continue pursuing ethnic and economic strangulating policies against Ndigbo.
“Ndigbo are like roots. Even when a small part of it is left in the ground, it can grow back and become a giant tree. That is how God created Ndigbo. No amount of envy and hatred can change that,” the IPOB statement noted.
