More Hardship For Consumers; As Bakers Increase Price Of Bread

As members of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, (AMBCN) made good their threat last week to embark on a three-day warning strike to press home their demand for government intervention over the rising price of baking ingredients, there are real indications that consumers are in for more hard times.

At a press briefing last week the Chairman of the association in Lagos, Prince Jacob Adejorin said the strike and consequent price increase in bread became necessary as bakers could no longer cope with high cost of bread production caused by increase in the cost of flour-a major ingredient in the baking of bread.

Addressing newsmen Prince Adejorin said “It is pertinent to inform bread consumers before the price increase because bread serves as a staple food for the majority of Nigerians. Reason for the price has to do with the continual price increase in baking ingredients, hence we have no option than to increase price of bread by adding 10 percent to the current price, if we are to remain in business”

“It is worthy to intimate the general public that the price of a bag of sugar has risen from N7, 200 to N10, 500 and bag of flour from N4, 900 to N5, 600. Prices of other baking ingredients have also gone up,” he stated.

Consumer’s Advocate check last week Friday when the strike started revealed that virtually every bakery in Lagos was closed in full compliance to the order. Bread consumers however did not begin to feel the effect of the closure until weekend.

While the strike ended yesterday, consumers are already agitated as the new price unleashes more hardship. Some consumers of bread who spoke to our reporter in Lagos expressed fear that the price increase would worsen the current economic hardship, as bread is a staple food eaten by the rich and poor.

Thomas Oke, a student, told our reporter that bread “is a fast and pocket friendly food “, noting that this current increase would definitely affect peoples’ feeding budget. “This price increase means that there will be no food for the common man in our society again,” he said.

Kazeem Adewale, a student of Trinity Secondary School, Apapa, said that the current increase would worsen the poverty situation in the country. He explained that many of the students would likely begin to forfeit their lunch if the new price persists.

“Bread is what most of the students usually eat for lunch to supplement our breakfast because it is cheap and affordable. Government should try as much as possible to assist the bakers to enable them get the ingredients at a cheaper rate so that there will not be any increase,” he said.

A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Tunde Adekoya said that the price increase would personally affect him because bread is his regular food. “I am a low income earner so increasing the price of bread is like telling me I will not eat again because bread is my major food,” he said.

He said many people who are in the low in-come group would be forced to find alternative food if nothing is done concerning the new price.

A teachers, Samuel Odidi , told our reporter that the increase in prices of bread would be unfair because earlier sizes had been reduced even before the announcement.

He urged the government to proffer solution to the rising prices of baking ingredients, saying “I do not blame the bakers, they are asking for increase because of increment in prices of ingredients.”

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