The planned increase in the price of bread by the Master Backers Association of Nigeria has continued to generate anxiety among bread sellers and consumers in Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the planned increase, some bread sellers and consumers who spoke with The Tide said the action will lead to hunger in the land as most people would not be able to afford bread again.
A bread seller, Mr Wokoma Ezekiel said, “The master bakers should shelve their action in the interest of the masses, I know that things are very expensive, but they should realise that most people, especially the low economic class depend on bread for their daily living, any increase in the price of bread would be burden some on the people”.
Another bread seller, Mrs Oluchi Okere, told The Tide, that the planned increase in bread price would affect the businesses of bread selling.
“It took the people sometime to cope with the increase in the price of bread sometime in the past, because of the high cost of flour, any further increase in the price of bread would affect our business as most people will not be able to buy. I want the master bakers to stop the planned increase in price to save our business”.
Emmanuela Okoh, who also sells bread in Port Harcourt, said Nigerians are already yoked under a high cost of living and the increase in the price of bread would worsen the economic situation.
She called on the federal government to subsidise the prices of flour and liberalise the flour industry by allowing more investors to be involved in the business.
“The federal government should ensure that the right environment is created for more investors to get involved in the flour mill business.
“Government should also build more flour mills in the country, this will not only reduce the cost of flour, but provide more jobs for the people”.
It would be recalled that the chairman of the Master Bakers Association, Rivers State Branch, Mr Kolawole Adelegun had recently announced the plan by the body to increase the unit price of bread following the increase in the cost of flour and other baking ingredients.
Adelegun said the increase in the price of a bag of flour by N600,00 has affected the business and may lead to a slight adjustment in the price of bread. He said the decision has not yet been taken but was in the offing.
The chairman also called on the Rivers State Government to address the issues of double taxation which is affecting the master bakers.
He pointed out that the master bakers were facing serious levies not related to bakers, such as MoT levies which affect the distribution of bread in Port Harcourt and its environs.

Taneh Beemene