Bread bakers under the auspices of Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) have lamented the difficulty in operating bakeries in Nigeria.
A statement issued and jointly signed on Tuesday by PBAN president, Emmanuel Onuorah, and its public and industrial relations officer, Babalola Thomas said they have concluded plans to embark on a withdrawal of their services and embark on strike from Thursday, July 21, 2022, for a four-day period, in the first instance, Solacebase reports.
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“Bread is a staple food and one of the cheapest ‘grab and go’ foods available for both the poor and rich. It, therefore, behoves the federal government to be mindful of this and ensure the survival and sustainability of the industry,’’ the statement said.
“In a move to ensure the survival of the premium breadmaking industry in Nigeria, we have decided to embark on a withdrawal of services beginning from Thursday 21st July 2022 for four days in the first instance, and where there is no intervention from the government, we shall escalate the duration of the withdrawal.’’ The statement added.
The statement appealed to the federal government to stop charging a 15 per cent wheat development levy on wheat import.
It also requested the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to review downwards the N154,000 penalty charged against bakeries on late renewal of certificates.
The association explained that prices of baking materials had gone up and sought access to grants and soft loans being given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs).
It also requested a stoppage of what it called the multi-agencies regulation of the breadmaking industry.
PBAN, disclosing its sister association had been having a series of meetings with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja (FMITI) since 2021, noted that nothing much had come out of that effort.
Master bakers to begin strike over rising production costs
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) are set to shut down operations due to rising costs of production of bread and related products.
Benjamin Agbonze, Edo State chairman of the association, in an interview with BusinessDay in Benin City, said the nationwide strike would commence on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, pending further directives from the national body.
Agbonze explained that the planned withdrawal of their services, which was earlier scheduled for Wednesday, July 13 and later extended to the new date to allow a hitch-free Sallah celebration, was caused by the incessant increase in prices of baking materials, especially flour and sugar.
He said the price of a 50kg bag of flour, a major material for baking, has risen from N15,000 to N29,000 depending on the brand, while a 50kg bag of sugar is now N30,000 as against N18,000 sold a year ago.
The bread makers and caterers said the soaring costs of production materials have pushed many out of business, calling on the Federal Government to allow master bakers to benefit from the cassava intervention fund which, according to him, has accrued over the years.
The association’s chairman said the fund initiated by the previous administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was, among other things, aimed at equipping and empowering bakers, but they are yet to fully reap the benefits.
“As we speak, bakers are not getting anything from it and we still contribute to the fund. If they cannot empower us with the fund that has accrued so far, then they should stop collecting it so that the money collected will be used to empower bakers nationwide. At least, it will reduce the prices of bread to a large extent.
“The withdrawal of services will start on Wednesday, July 20 as we await further directives from the national body. The Federal Government is not giving us a conducive environment to operate and that is why we are calling them to come and assist us as things are very costly. The flour millers are crying they don’t have access to forex, they go to the open market to source for forex at a black market rate and this has made the price to go up astronomically,” Agbonze said.
