July 14, 2026

Ouaga Press

Independent English-language coverage of Burkina Faso's most pressing news and developments.

Soaring building material prices in N’Djamena frustrate construction plans

In N’Djamena, households and businesses are feeling the pinch as construction material prices surge across hardware stores, making new building projects increasingly out of reach.

skyrocketing costs for essential construction supplies

Recent weeks have seen dramatic price jumps for key materials. Lambour, once priced at 3,000 FCFA, now retails between 4,500 and 5,000 FCFA. Chevron has climbed from 6,000 to 9,000 FCFA, while white planks jumped from 9,000 to 14,000 FCFA. Even Dangote cement bags are now selling for 11,000 FCFA.

customs duties cited as the main culprit

Hardware store owners point to higher import taxes as the driving force behind these increases. They report that rising customs tariffs have nearly doubled supply costs, leaving them with little choice but to pass the burden onto customers.

« The new duty rates have made imports unaffordable, and we’re forced to adjust our prices accordingly, » says Mahamat, a local hardware store manager.