Dealers and builders in Bauchi have raised concern over the inflation of prices of building materials in the state.
The current market value of construction materials in Bauchi State trimmed the flow of customers into the market, a trend that hampered dealers of the commodity from making brisk businesses to earn a living just as those raising structures grappled to see the back of their projects.
Boniface Eze, a construction material dealer in Bauchi, lamented that “the materials are obviously very expensive right now and it made builders stop patronising us. if you ask, they will say that they will come back for it at a later time, but oftentimes, they don’t.”
He explained that the prices of building materials are not favourable at the moment from the wholesalers’ point In Lagos and Onitsha, a situation that affects prices in other cities across the country.
Hamza Uba, another dealer told WikkiTimes that poor sale is fast affecting their daily livelihoods, adding that the situation is degenerating to a level that nobody feels safe.
Ebuka Amadi, a house owner who spoke to our reporter at his construction site, said that his project has reached an advanced stage but is not sure of finishing the project anytime soon because of the hike in prices of construction materials.
Engineer Salihu Umar, Chairman Bauchi State Technical Committee Council For Regulation of Engineers In Nigeria, COREN said, “the onus is on the government to intervene because things are getting out of hand; even as people prefer to cut corners.”
He added that high prices of construction materials could make people pause construction activities and worse still settle for fake materials which have their own delicate consequences.
“When there is no money and the price of these materials are getting higher every day, the chance of cutting corners which I have complained is a big problem our town planning mode will be on the increase,” he said.
The Chairman Bauchi State Carpentry Cooperative Union, Shehu Bawa Muhammad led the delegation of the members of the Union and met 10 sellers of building materials in Bauchi issuing them an ultimatum letter as a means to register their grievances on the hike in the prices of construction materials.
The Chairman warns that if nothing change in the pricing of building materials, his members will embark on a strike as a last-ditch effort to alter the situation.
Mrs Victoria Eze and Alhaji Sani said the top dealers and companies are to be blamed, insisting that they will convey the message to their Superiors.
