Members of Rivers State Branch Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) have announced hike in prices of various types of bread.
While announcing the hike, Chairman of Rivers chapter of the association, Chidi Emmanuel Orlu, blamed the adjustment of prices on costs of baking materials, diesel, mixers and other associated costs of producing bread.
He said making the hike in the cost of materials have made hike in prices of bread inevitable.
Orlu pleaded with customers and residents of Rivers State to show understanding and adjust to the new prices because bakers too were not finding it easy.
He said a bag of flour which was N25,000 has increased to N27,000: “After you have bought the flour, you have to transport it. A bag of Sugar which was N25,000, now it is N29,000. We use diesel. It now sells between N750-N800 per litre. The cost of Butter is also on rise. We also have to pay our workers.”
Another baker, Simon Chukwuji, pointed out that to transport a truck load of flour from Calabar to Port Harcourt costs N500,000 and above.
A mother of five, Mrs Nkem Nwora, lamented that it has become increasingly difficult to include bread in the family breakfast menu because of the cost.
“A sliced loaf of bread, which used to sell for N300 now, sells between N900–N1,400. When you buy the bread, you also need to buy beverages to make a complete meal. I have resolved to change menu,”she said.
She, however, exonerated the Bakers from blame, noting that as businessmen experiencing high cost of production, bakers have to break even.
Nwora called on the Federal Government to intervene and bring down prices of baking materials, foodstuffs and costs of production.