Quick answer: A 50kg bag of cement in Nigeria sells for ₦10,000 to ₦14,000 in May 2026, depending on brand and state. Dangote and BUA are around ₦10,800–₦11,000 per bag in most major cities. Bulk truckload (900 bags) prices fall to about ₦10,500 per bag.
Price of cement in Nigeria today (May 2026)
Cement prices in Nigeria have risen sharply since 2024. In Lagos alone, a 50kg bag climbed from about ₦9,000 in December 2025 to ₦10,000 in January 2026, and to ₦11,500 in some areas by May 2026. The figures below reflect average retail prices from depot dealers in the country’s main building-materials hubs.
| Cement brand | Retail (per 50kg bag) | Wholesale (900-bag truckload) |
|---|---|---|
| Dangote Cement | ₦10,800 – ₦11,500 | ₦9.5m – ₦10.0m |
| BUA Cement | ₦10,500 – ₦10,900 | ₦9.2m – ₦9.6m |
| Lafarge (Elephant) | ₦10,700 – ₦11,300 | ₦9.4m – ₦9.8m |
| Ibeto Cement | ₦10,500 – ₦11,000 | ₦9.2m – ₦9.7m |
| UNICEM | ₦10,800 – ₦11,400 | ₦9.5m – ₦9.9m |
| Ashaka (Lafarge) | ₦10,600 – ₦11,200 | ₦9.3m – ₦9.8m |
Wholesale buyers who lift a full 900-bag truckload directly from the factory secure the lowest per-bag rate, often around ₦10,500. A 600-bag trailer load attracts a smaller discount.
State-by-state variation
- Lagos and Ogun: ₦10,800 – ₦11,500 retail.
- Abuja and Kaduna: ₦10,500 – ₦11,000.
- Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River: ₦11,000 – ₦12,000 (higher haulage from southern depots).
- Kano and Jigawa: ₦10,500 – ₦11,200 (close to BUA’s Sokoto plant).
- Edo, Delta, Bayelsa: ₦11,000 – ₦11,800.
- Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe: ₦10,600 – ₦11,400 (Ashaka catchment).
Remote sites or upcountry villages can add ₦500 to ₦1,000 per bag for the last-mile delivery.
Why cement is this expensive
- Naira devaluation. The naira has weakened sharply against the dollar since the 2023 unification, raising the cost of imported clinker, gypsum, spare parts and limestone-mining equipment.
- Diesel and gas costs. Cement kilns and haulage trucks burn through both. Diesel pump prices crossed ₦1,500/litre in 2025.
- Electricity tariffs. Band A industrial users pay over ₦200/kWh — a major input cost for grinding mills.
- Demand pull. Federal road projects (Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry) plus state housing schemes have lifted demand.
- Limited price competition. Three producers — Dangote, BUA and Lafarge — control about 95% of installed capacity.
How to buy cement and not get burned
- Lock the price in writing. Quotes change weekly. Ask for a dated invoice.
- Buy direct from a depot. Skip the middleman where possible — savings of ₦300–₦500 per bag.
- Inspect the bag. Look for the manufacture date and batch code. Cement older than 90 days has weaker setting time.
- Match cement grade to job. 42.5R/42.5N is standard for slabs and columns; 32.5R is fine for plastering and blockmoulding.
- Track the manufacturer’s recommended retail price. Dangote, BUA and Lafarge publish factory-gate prices on their websites — anything more than ₦1,000 above that is dealer markup.
Top cement manufacturers in Nigeria
Dangote Cement Plc
The largest cement producer in sub-Saharan Africa. Listed on the NGX. Installed capacity in Nigeria exceeds 35 million tonnes per annum across plants in Obajana (Kogi), Ibese (Ogun) and Gboko (Benue). Group capacity across ten African countries is over 51 Mtpa. dangotecement.com
BUA Cement Plc
Second-largest producer. Plants at Obu (Edo) and Sokoto run a combined 17 Mtpa. BUA was the first of the three majors to publicly cap retail prices in 2024 during the federal government’s negotiations on building costs.
Lafarge Africa Plc (Elephant, Ashaka)
Part of the Holcim group. Operates the Ewekoro and Sagamu plants in Ogun, Ashaka in Gombe and Mfamosing in Cross River. Combined Nigerian capacity is about 10.5 Mtpa. Sold as “Elephant” in the south-west and “Ashaka” in the north-east.
Ibeto Cement
Nigerian-owned. Bagging plant at Bundu-Ama, Port Harcourt. Focused on the south-east and south-south markets.
UNICEM (United Cement Company of Nigeria)
A Lafarge subsidiary operating the Mfamosing plant near Calabar. Strong distribution in Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers.
FAQ
How much is a bag of cement in Lagos today?
Between ₦10,800 and ₦11,500 in May 2026, with some retailers pushing above ₦12,000 on weekends or during major road projects.
How many bags of cement are in a trailer load?
A standard cement trailer holds either 600 bags or 900 bags. Most Dangote and BUA bulk deliveries are 900-bag truckloads.
What is the cheapest cement brand in Nigeria right now?
BUA Cement consistently lists the lowest factory-gate price, followed closely by Ibeto in the south-east.
How many bags of cement build a 3-bedroom bungalow?
A standard 3-bedroom flat takes 110 to 150 bags from foundation to roofing, depending on design and block type.
Will cement prices come down in 2026?
Unlikely below ₦10,000 unless the naira appreciates sharply or diesel pump prices drop. BUA has held its factory-gate price flat for most of 2025 but warned of further inflation pressure.
Is the federal government regulating cement prices?
The Ministry of Works has held repeated talks with manufacturers since 2024 but no statutory price control is in place. Manufacturers have only agreed to voluntary ceilings.
cement sales call 08035126062