Foreign
Scarcity of bread looms in Nigeria as bakers vow to shut down operations
Published
2 years agoon
By
Vida Essel-LampteyNigerians may have to contend with bread scarcity as the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria has issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to address various challenges facing the industry, failure of which they will shut down production.
Gabriel Adeniyi, chairman of the association who addressed journalists in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, stated that the decision to withdraw its services was taken following the myriads of challenges confronting the bakery and catering industry in Nigeria, adding that all efforts made by the association towards remedying them were bluffed by the government and its agencies.
“The Master Bakers and Caterers nationwide resolved to down tools and shut down all bakeries from July 20 to 26, 2022. I wish to inform the general public and indeed, the customers and consumers, that the National Secretariat of the association has directed all chapters to comply unfailingly.”
“Among the reasons that forced the unfortunate industrial action include shortage of raw materials, increasing cost of materials, over taxation and levies.
“Since the ban on importation of flour into the country, no serious effort has been made for homegrown wheat as promised by the government and its relevant agency, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.”
He added, “The Master Bakers have requested for palliative in form of soft loans or subsidy to bakers to enable them produce quality and affordable quantity of bread for mass consumption, which was promised but not fulfilled.
“These challenges facing the association are threatening production of affordable and quality bread in the country.
“The commodity will therefore be off the street, markets, shops and dinning table to drive home the points raised for necessary action by government.
“Constant increase in the prices of baking materials especially flour, sugar and other ingredients have led to souring costs, poor quality and great loss of customers and consumers, causing producers to, consequently, closing down.
“If that is allowed, thousands of bakers, millions of their employees will be jobless and marketers will also be affected, while millions of thousands of naira extracted from the industry will be lost to smugglers and foreign bakers of bread,” he said.
Source: informationng.com
You may like
-
Nigerian Air Force plane crashes in Benue
-
Nigerian Chef breaks Guinness World Records, becomes Longest Cooking Marathon title holder
-
“Ghana- IMF deal: Was this a truly well negotiated deal? – Prof Gyampo writes
-
IMF $3bn cash has pushed Ghana’s international reserves to $5.7bn – Governor Addison
-
IMF bailout: Prof Quartey proposes ideas to gov’t on how to deal with freeze on employment
-
Gamey criticizes Ofori-Atta’s approach to new debt restructuring
Mahama leads NDC to mourn with Kufuor over wife’s passing
Former President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, October 4 led a delegation from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to visit...
Former First Lady of Ghana Theresa Kufuor reported dead
The former First Lady of Ghana and wife of Ghana’s former President, John Agyekum Kufour, Mrs Theresa Kufuor has been...
The most powerful tool for change is the right to vote – Mahama
The 2024 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, is rallying Ghanaains who have grown disillusioned with...
PFJ was a mere state resource looting platform – Minority
The Minority has descended heavily on the Akufo-Addo-led government for launching a second phase of the flagship Planting for Food...
ECOWAS is desecrating Ghana
The Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Abraham Amaliba has said the Economy Community of...
Prof Gyampo elected President of UTAG, University of Ghana branch
A Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana (Legon), Prof Ransford Gyampo have been elected...