In N’Djamena, the capital of Chad, the soaring prices of construction materials have become a pressing concern for households and businesses alike, disrupting ongoing building projects across the city.

Over the past few weeks, several essential materials have seen dramatic price surges. Lambour, previously priced at 3,000 FCFA, now ranges between 4,500 and 5,000 FCFA. Chevron has jumped from 6,000 to 9,000 FCFA, while white planks have risen from 9,000 to 14,000 FCFA. Even a bag of Dangote cement now costs 11,000 FCFA, a sharp increase that has left many scrambling to adjust their budgets.

Shop owners in local hardware stores cite recent customs duty hikes on imported goods as the primary driver behind these price spikes. They explain that these new tariffs have significantly inflated supply costs, forcing them to pass the burden onto consumers. Mahamat, a hardware store manager in N’Djamena, notes, « The prices have doubled due to the new customs rates. »