In a bid to expand its customer base in the cement market, the management of United Cement Company of Nigeria has claimed to have slashed the price of its 32.5 cement grade downward by N125, against the backdrop of the recent reduction of prices of cement products by the top manufacturers in the country.
The management explained that the decision was aimed at retaining patronage and deepening its penetration into the cement production sector market.
It would be recalled that Dangote Cement plc had last week reduced the prices of its 42.5 cement grade products by N100 per bag last, while the 32.5 grade, which is yet to be introduced into the cement market, would be sold at N200, lower that the 42.5 cement grade.
The Technical Service Engineer of the company, Bukola Adebisi, dropped the hint at a trade forum to sensitize UNICEM dealers and users which included masons, block makers among others on the right application of the cement products.
He noted that the sensitization become necessary following complaints on the incidence of building collapses in Nigeria, which according to him, was attributed to wrong applications of cement products by building contractors and property developers.
He said similar trade fora had been held in nine states in the two geo-political zones, adding that the forum would shift to Rivers and Bayelsa states, where UNICEM was established with about 5000 target end-users and beneficiaries.
He said that the 32.5 grade of cement it was suitable for general application such as blocking making and masonry work, while the 42.5 grade was an effective solution to the needs of various construction projects like bridges, high rise building, dams, massive beams and slabs.
The technical engineer assured that, with the recent ground- breaking ceremony of the construction of its second production plant by Vice President, Nnamadi Sambo, its products would be more available in the South-South and South-East geo-political zones.
He, however, advised customers to always dispose of their cement product in their warehouses within one month of purchase noting that would help to reduce cases of expired products.
Adebisi, while explaining that customers would enjoy several other benefits, in additional to the N125 price reduction, disclosed that the 42.5 cement grade, not currently in bag, would soon be introduced into the 50kg bag with reduced price for the benefit of dealers and the end-users.
“Incentives are on ground currently for the dealers and with the current atmosphere of cement prices, UNICEM management has adequately responded by reducing the price of its 32.5 cement grade by N125.00 per bag. There are other incentives for the customers.
“But for the 42.5 grade (jumbo) we are yet to have it in 50kg bag and very soon it will be introduced into 50kg. There are also plans to slash the price for the benefit of dealers and the end users,” he said.