The Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) has lamented the difficulty of running bakeries in Nigeria.
As a result, they have decided to withdraw their services for four days beginning Thursday, July 21, 2022, according to a statement issued by the association.
“Bread is a staple food and one of the cheapest ‘grab and go’ foods available to both the poor and rich.” As a result, it is incumbent on the federal government to be mindful of this and ensure the industry’s survival and sustainability.
“In order to ensure the survival of Nigeria’s premium breadmaking industry, we have decided to embark on a withdrawal of services beginning Thursday 21st July, 2022 for four days in the first instance, and if there is no intervention from the government, we shall escalate the duration of the withdrawal,” the statement, dated July 20, 2022, stated.
The statement, signed by PBAN president Emmanuel Onuorah and public and industrial relations officer Babalola Thomas, urged the Federal government to stop charging a 15% wheat development levy on wheat imports.
It also asked the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reconsider the N154,000 penalty charged to bakeries for late certificate renewal.
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The association explained that baking material prices had risen and requested access to grants and soft loans offered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs).
It also demanded an end to what it called the multi-agency regulation of the breadmaking industry.
PBAN stated that its sister organisation had been meeting with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja (FMITI) since 2021, but that nothing had come of it.
Last month, the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of (AMBCN) threatened to withdraw its members’ services across the country over the same issue.
According to an AMBCN communiqué, the cost of flour, sugar, and other bakery materials has skyrocketed beyond the reach of many bakers.
