Tough Times For Consumers Of Bread, Pastry Brands As Baker’s Strike Looms In Nigeria

This is not the best time for lovers of bread, pastry brands, and related products as the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) has threatened to withdraw its services throughout the country from July 2022.
The threat was made due to the hikes in the price of flour, sugar, and other raw materials used for baking and alleged neglect by the federal government, and fleecing by regulatory agencies.
The association noted this development on Friday, June 24 in a communiqué issued after a meeting of its National Executive Council, in Abuja, FCT.
A statement issued by the association executives led by Mansur Umar, National President, stated that they would commence an initial two-week strike from Wednesday, July 13.
The bakers also stated the costs of flour, sugar and other materials used in the bakery business had soared beyond the reach of many bakers.
The group also said efforts at getting the government’s intervention in the matter had been unsuccessful, as there had been no positive response from the concerned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
In furtherance to the development, the communique also added that “Increase in prices of bakery materials, especially flour and sugar having reached unprecedented levels, for example, flour is now between N25, 000 and N27, 500, so also other ingredients.
“The National Wheat Cultivation Committee already constituted is yet to be inaugurated after over one year. NAFDAC, SON, and NESREA have turned the bakers into money-making machines by charging our members’ outrageous levies even at this very challenging moment.”
AMBCN said: “Consequently, the NEC in session resolved that all zones, state, Local Governments, and units of our association should commence full mobilisation of our members nationwide to embark on withdrawal of services starting from Wednesday, July 13, 2022, for an initial period of two weeks.”
However, in March, bakers complained that the hike in diesel price and exchange rate volatility caused many of its members across the country to shut down their business operations.