Kogi: Bread bakers lament over high cost of production,
50% of bakeries shut down.
IDRIS AHMED, Lokoja
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, (AMBCN), Kogi state chapter, has appealed to the Federal and State Governments to intervene in the crisis that has almost killed the age long production of the staple bread industry in the country.
Kogi State Chairman of the bread bakers, Chief Adeniyi Gabriel Bamidele, on Thursday in Lokoja, wondered how the government should allow bread to disappear from the common man’s table with out taking any serious measure to curtail it.
He revealed that over 50% of the bakeries in Kogi state has closed down due to inability of the the bakers to cope with the production costs
Chief Bamidele, made the appeal on Thursday at the inauguration of the new Executive Committee of the Lokoja/Koton karfe branch of the association held at the Kewon Hotel, Lokoja.
While he bemoaned the high rocketed cost of baking materials that gradually pushed up cost of production, the situation worsened as the Bakers and bakeries fold up businesses rendering shortage of the commodity beyond the reach of the common citizens.
He also lamented that several revenue agencies continue to increase taxes on the products and the bakeries leading to multiple taxations.
He also noted with serious concern the neglect of the association by the government when Covid 19 hit the entire world, though the association made several appeals to all tiers of government for palliatives as done to other essential sectors, but nothing was done.
The Chairman also used the occasion to again plead with the Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to consider the bread Bakers for palliatives in view of the rampaging economic hardships caused by the removal of subsidy on petrol.
Chief Bamidele, who consoled members of the association for the hardships encountered, urged them not to despaired, assuring that with the new leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the situation may improve.
He however disclosed that bread that the food for the most vulnerable has now become the exclusive reserve for the rich and privileged in Nigeria.
In his remarks at the occasion a former Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Barrister Bamidele Suru, said that bread right from the ancient times, bread has been the most staple food in the world.
Barr stated that Bread has been mentioned severally in the chapters of the holy books especially the Bible as the commonest and very important.
He therefore urged the government to wade in to salvage the country from the essential commodity like bread.
Suru who was the Chairman of the occasion congratulated the new Executive, wishing them successful tenure.
