Bakers under the auspices Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria will down tool and shut all bakeries between July 20 and 26, 2022, to protest the various challenges confronting their business.
If this happens, there will be a scarcity of bread as the national secretariat of the association has directed all chapters and members to ensure full compliance
Addressing journalists in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the Chairman of the association, Gabriel Adeniyi, stated that the decision to withdraw its services was taken following the myriads of challenges confronting the bakery and catering industry in Nigeria.
He listed some of the challenges to include shortage of raw materials, increasing cost of materials, over taxation and levies.
The association also issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the challenges.
He regretted that all efforts by the association to remedy the challenges were bluffed by the government and its agencies.
According to Adeniyi, since the ban on importation of flour into the country, no serious effort had been made for homegrown wheat as promised by the government and its relevant agency, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, just as a request by Master Bakers for palliative in form of soft loans or subsidy to bakers to enable them produce quality and affordable quantity of bread for mass consumption, which was promised, had not been fulfilled.
“These challenges facing the association are threatening production of affordable and quality bread in the country. The commodity will therefore be off the street, markets, shops and dining table to drive home the points raised for necessary action by government.”
