By Ehichioya Steve Odion
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, has cried out to the Federal Government to quickly intervene and find a solution to the arbituary increase in baking materials.
The association express its bitterness on the issue through their Chairman, Agbonze Benjamin in an interview with the Groove Watch Magazine in Benin City.
He said between January till date that baking materials has increased by over three hundred percent, adding that the association have been bearing the cost, trying to adjust and strongly to breakthrough and all to no avail.
"As we speak now 300 bakeries have been closed down in Imo State while 15,369 workers were recently sacked as well as a result of high cost of baking materials. As naira continue to collapse, prices of baking materials continue to rise. The end is not in sight".
He said the biggest problem being faced by the importers of baking materials presently is the inability to access dollars exchange through the Central Bank as Federal Government has stopped them, as they now resort to buying in the black market.
"The national body of the association has been engaging the Senate President and the Ministry of Agriculture which is our supervisory ministry. It is just of recent that they are now trying to revive the programme that was being put in place by the former President, Good luck Jonathan before he left office, which they jettison for six years. The programme was about sourcing for local materials as alternative for bread production. Yet, solution is not in sight".
He said butter that was sold for N5,500 is now N14, 000 while flour has also risen from N9, 000 to N18,000, adding that it has also affected other materials which made the prices of bread to continue to go up.
Agbonze said paying workers with their reserve just to remain in business is amount to foolishness, and begged the Federal Government to look into the matter to avoid bakery industries going into exhtintion.
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