Ayodele Olalere
Bakers in Lagos State have once again called on the Federal Government to intervene on the unnecessary and unjustifiable increase in the price of baking materials.
Making the call at the end of their monthly meeting at the headquarters of the association, the Chairmen, Lagos State Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Kosofe and Surulere Branches, Mr Akintola Taiwo and Comrade Ibitoye Oladapo respectively, in a joint release circulated and made available to journalists strongly condemn the arbitrary increase of flours by the government.
The association maintained that they have on several occasions called on the federal government to always intervene in the increment of baking materials, adding that as we speak, the situation had, however, deteriorated now due to an astronomical increase of the price of flour.
Taiwo on his own maintained that a bag of flour rose from N13,000 to N19, 000, while a bag of sugar from 14,000 to N22,000 at the moment, with other materials.
However, the association said on its own part, they refused to increase the prices of their products despite all the skyrocket and astronomic prices.
“It is high time we let the Federal Government know what we are facing as bakers and caterers in Nigeria. All baking materials starting from flour, butter, sugar, milk, nylon, salt, yeast, vegetable oil and others have increased drastically”
We as an association have refused to increase the price of any of our products because we know this would have a negative impact on the economy”, the association said.
He disclosed further that the association had on several occasions met with millers to discuss and find solutions to the continuous increase in the price of flour, but affirmed that millers on their part have been unyielding in finding a lasting solution to this problem.
He disclosed that millers have continued to shift the blame on continuous increment in foreign exchange.
“With this development, our position as an association is that we are of the opinion that millers are comfortable with continuous increment, hence their non-challant attitude to the plight of bakers and caterers as daily preaching”, Comrade Oladapo said.
However, the association beckon on the government to act as a matter of urgency and seek an immediate solutions to the problems combating them, which according to them would have a great impact on the masses, economy and households.
