Bakers calls on FG to Intervene in Price Hike of Baking Materials

Victoria Ogunrinde

Bakers under the aegis of Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) have again called on the federal government to intervene in what they identify as unnecessary and unjustifiable increase in the prices of flour and other baking materials.

In a joint statement made available to journalists, the Chairmen of Kosofe and Surulere branches, Akintola Taiwo and Ibitoye Oladapo made the call on Wednesday at the end of their monthly meeting in Lagos.

According to the statement, they strongly condemned the arbitrary increase in flour and baking materials prices by the government.

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The association maintained that it has on several occasions called on the Federal Government to always intervene in the increment in baking materials, adding that “As we speak, the situation has, however, deteriorated now due to astronomical increase in the price of flour.”

Speaking of the hike in price, Taiwo and Oladapo while noting that a bag of flour had risen from N13,000 to N19,000, and a bag of sugar from 14,000 to 22,000 at the moment, amongst other materials, however, maintained that the association refused to increase the prices of its products despite all the skyrocket and astronomic prices.

“It is high time we let the Federal Government know what we are facing as bakers and caterers in Nigeria. All baking materials starting from flour, butter, sugar, milk, nylon, salt, yeast, vegetable oil and others have increased drastically.

“We, as an association, have refused to increase the price of any of our products, because we know this would have a negative impact on the economy”, the association said.

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Furthermore, they disclosed that the bakers’ association had on several occasions met with millers to discuss and find solutions to the continuous increase in the price of flour, but affirmed that millers on their part have been unyielding in finding a lasting solution to this problem.

The statement stated that millers have continued to shift the blame on the continuous increment in foreign exchange.

“With this development, our position as an association is that we are of the opinion that millers are comfortable with continuous increment, hence their nonchalant attitude to the plight of bakers and caterers as being daily preached”, Oladapo said.

However, the association beckoned on the government to, as a matter of urgency, act and seek an immediate solution to the problems facing them, which according to them, would be of a great impact on the masses, economy and households.