Cement manufacturers in Nigeria have given insight to the continued escalation in the price of cements, attributing it to high cost of raw materials.

Besides, the group pointed to the cost of packaging materials as contributing to the rise in the finished products.

The manufacturers also highlighted problems responsible for the shortfall in local production of the commodity. They listed the shortfall in energy supply to the industry and inadequate supply of bags for packaging and poor quality of locally supplied gypsum, a core raw material for cement production as major factors responsible for shortfall in local production of cement.

Chairman of non-metallic mineral products sectoral group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Dr. Ayoola Fasina disclosed these to newsmen in Lagos last week at a seminar on non-metallic mineral products organised by MAN.