Nigerian bakers suspend bread production over high costs
Bakers, under the aegis of the Premium Bread Makers Association of Nigeria have announced to halt production of their products, effective Thursday.
According to a statement signed by the President of the association, Emmanuel Onuorah, operating a bakery in Nigeria has become almost impossible as the incessant increases in the prices of baking materials and diesel have affected the industry negatively.
Onuorah said bakeries were running in losses and the situation was no longer sustainable.
According to him, bread is a staple food and one of the cheapest ‘grab and go’ food that is available for both the poor and the rich.
“It, therefore, behooves the Federal Government to be mindful of this and ensure the survival and sustainability of the industry,” he said.
The statement read in part, “In a move to ensure the survival of the premium bread-making industry in Nigeria, we have decided to embark on a withdrawal of services beginning from Thursday 21st of July, 2022 for four days in the first instance and where there is no intervention from the government, we shall escalate the duration of the withdrawal.”
“The reasons for the withdrawal of services include an incessant increase in the price of baking materials, Federal Government’s 15 per cent wheat development levy on wheat import, NAFDAC’s N154,000 penalty charged for late renewal of certificates, the inability of its members to access grants and soft loans being given by the Central Bank of Nigeria to Micro, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises and multi-agencies regulation of the bread-making industry.”
According to the statement, the association’s series of meetings with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in 2021 did not the desired result hence its decision to embark on the strike.
Last month, the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria via a communique issued, and signed by the association’s executives, led by Mansur Umar, had declared that it would embark on two-week strike action in response to skyrocketing prices of baking materials.
Punch
