Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has explained that the delay of the proposed construction of 20,000 housing units by a Malaysian firm in the state to provide more houses for civil servant is due to what he described as sudden increase in the cost of building materials in the country.

Governor Shekarau disclosed that the state government had already finished all arrangement with the Malaysian investors who will develop the properties, adding that what Kano state government will do is to provided plots at six sites for the project in accordance with the terms of agreement and the architectural set up had been assessed, adding that compensation for the plots had even been paid.

However, vanguard market survey in Kano has indicated that the prices of building materials have escalated in the old commercial city within the last six month.

The report showed that the price of cement rose from N1,800 to between N2,100 and N2,200 per bag depending on the make, while the price of 9-inch and 6-inch blocks sell for N80 and N70 respectively against their former cost of N70 and N60, two months ago.

Similarly, ceiling sheets which used to sell for N600 per sheet has risen to between N800- N900 while a bundle of corrugated iron sheet and colour zinc now sell for N11,500 and N16,000 as against N9,000 and N14,500 some weeks ago.