Bread producers and caterers on has warned to withdraw its services nationwide due to the unstopping increase in bakery materials, diesel and the non-chalant attitude of the regulators and the federal government.
In a statement issued by their national body – Association of Master Bakers and Caterer of Nigeria, they stated that the cost of flour, sugar and other materials used in bakery business had skyrocketed beyond the reach of many bakers.
Bakery materials have spiked so high that the price of 5kg baking flour rose from N3,000 to N5,500 in less than 8months.
Russia’s war is triggering a wheat shortage in countries dependent on Ukraine’s supply. And wheat is used in many bread making. According to the latest NBS report on Wheat production 2021, there are thirteen(13) States that produce wheat in Nigeria. The total hectares of cultivated land for wheat production across all thirteen states is 11,820, while total yield per hectare was 3,126 and total production was 36,943,800 metric tonnes.
The pandemic-induced plunge in crude prices last year foreign-exchange earnings at Africa’s largest oil producer. Banditry and frequent incidents of kidnapping in the food producing northern part of the country have hampered prospects of boosting output immediately.
Many bakers have reported that they cannot power their factories and pay salaries
