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The non availability of raw materials for production of bread has been linked to rising prices of bread in Nigeria.
The CEO of Treasure Bakery, Femi Akande who disclosed this during an interview with BusinessDay said Wheat products are not sourced locally in Nigeria as that has continued to affect the price of raw materials for bakery.
Akande who stated this in Lokoja added that Wheat was not grown in commercial quantities in Nigeria. So, manufacturers still depend on importation. But custom duties and other payments manufacturers face has been the baker’s headache.
He also said if the Federal Government can reduce all these payments for manufacturers, definitely bakers plan to down tools due to high price of raw materials, will not come up.
Akande equally lamented that it is unfortunate that before government listens to people plight, things might have gotten to a very bad situation.
“It is unfortunate that before government listens to people’s plight in terms of down tooling or resolving to down tooling, going on strike before they listen. I think if Federal government can come in talk with them, let them know the areas where they can help so that raw materials could be available. I don’t think it has to go to that extent of going to strike, planning to down tool before government could do the needful”.
He emphasized that if Federal government can come in and cushion the effect to make the raw materials available it will be alright, adding that the economic situation across the country is biting seriously and it’s affecting every sector.
He urged the Federal government to come out with a programme that will reduce the burden on importation as it will fizzle down the agitation for down tooling while stressing that bakers buy directly from the importers and so manufacturers need the government to succeed.
Akande also urged consumers to look out for quality and nutritious bread with NAFDAC / SON logo, adding that both agencies at the moment are certifying bakeries now. They should always watch for SON/NAFDAC logo in all the bakery products especially bread.
He enlightened consumers further, saying there is NAFDAC/SON logo bread now to eradicate bromate and saccharin from bread , adding that bromate and sacharin are poisonous and should not be used.
Akande also advised bakers that are using bromate and sachrin to desist from the idea, as it is dangerous for human consumption.
Victoria Nnakiaike, Kogi
