Dealers in Cement products in South-east Zone of the country have decried the scarcity of the product, which they said has pushed up prices and slowed development.

They, therefore, called on the Federal Government to reopen Eastern Bulk Cement Company, and offer it the  rights to import bulk cement for rebaging.

Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the dealers, led by  Patron of Cement Dealers Association in Bayelsa and Rivers state, and traditional ruler of Umueze Mbieri autonomous community, Imo State, Eze Peter Opara, said in a period of scarcity, all outlets for sale of the product should be re-opened.

Eze Opara described as misleading, the statement credited to Managing Director of Dangote Cement, Mr Knut Ulvmeon, that   there was no product scarcity, saying it  did not present the real situation on the ground.

Opara said  allowing Eastern Bulk Cement (EBC), makers of Eagle cement to come back into production would help stem the upward spiral of  prices of the product.

The dealers complained that Dangote Cement, which was claiming product availability has recently increased  landing cost of product by adding N50, 000 to prices as handling charges.

According to him, formerly dealers paid N765,000.00 per 30 ton, it had been increased it to N770,000.00.