The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria in Lagos State has raised alarms over the relentless increase in flour prices across the country, despite government efforts to stabilize the market.
The association voiced its concerns during a protest in Lagos on Wednesday. Speaking to journalists, the association’s chairman, Chief Ayoola Mathew, highlighted the frustration of bakers in the face of rising costs. Despite the Federal Government’s recent approval of a duty-free importation waiver on wheat, maize, and other essential commodities, flour prices continue to climb.
Chief Mathew expressed deep concern over the refusal of Nigerian millers to implement the waiver, a move that has led to an unrelenting surge in flour prices, thereby crippling the operations of many bakeries.
“In July, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free window for the importation of wheat, maize, and husked brown rice, effective from August 1, 2024,” Mathew stated. “This was intended to alleviate rising food inflation and make basic food items more affordable for Nigerians. However, it is unfortunate that the Nigerian millers have ignored this relief measure, continuing to inflate the price of their products.”
The association’s findings revealed that some millers have deliberately ignored the waiver, choosing instead to hike flour prices daily. This defiance, according to the association, undermines the Federal Government’s efforts to ease the burden on Nigerians and poses a significant threat to the baking industry.
“The millers’ actions are akin to robbing innocent Nigerians,” Mathew lamented. “Rather than responding to our calls for price reduction, they advised us to increase the price of bread, which would only add to the suffering of the common man—a move we find inhumane.”
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He further noted that the price of flour has skyrocketed to N67,000 per bag, a stark contrast to the N8,000 per bag price just a decade ago. This drastic increase has made it nearly impossible for bakeries to produce affordable bread, leading to the closure of many bakeries and the loss of jobs.
The association called on the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to urgently address the escalating flour price crisis. They urged the government to investigate the activities of Nigerian millers and sugar producers, assess their operations, and enforce price reductions to alleviate the impact of rising costs on Nigerians.
In addition to demanding a reduction in the prices of sugar, flour, and other baking ingredients, the association also called for increased distribution and accessibility of these commodities to bakers.
Chief Mathew proposed a reduced flour price range of between N30,000 and N35,000 per bag and called for stringent monitoring and sanctions on non-compliant entities.
“The continued shutdown of bakeries due to high production costs will only worsen hunger and unemployment,” he warned. “We urge the Federal Government to take decisive actions to ensure that the waivers on wheat importations are enforced and that millers comply with the intended purpose of reducing the cost of flour and sugar. The benefits of the Federal Government’s waiver should be reflected in the market prices of food items.”
The association stressed the need for swift government intervention to prevent further damage to the industry and to safeguard the food security of millions of Nigerians.