The Lagos State chapter of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) has implored the Federal Government to intervene in “unnecessary and unjustifiable increase in prices of flour, sugar and other baking materials”.
In a statement at the weekend, the chapter Chairman, Chief Matthew Ayoola condemned arbitrary increases in prices of flour and other baking materials.
The association said it had on several occasions called on the Federal Government to intervene in the increment of prices of baking materials, adding: “As we speak, the situation has deteriorated due to astronomical increase in the prices of flour and sugar”.
Ayoola said the price of a bag of flour had risen from N28,000 to N35,000, while the price of a bag of sugar had risen from N37,000 to N43,000.
He added that prices of other materials, including nylon, butter, preservatives and flavour had increased.
“It is high time we let the Federal Government know what we’re facing as bakers. We are the second largest employer of labour in the country, with over 500,000 members. Now almost 50 percent of bakeries have closed down due to unjustifiable and unnecessary increments. We as an association have refused to increase the price of our products, because we know this will have a negative effect on the economy and increase the suffering of the masses”, Ayoola said.
