Nigerians Wednesday were inundated with the news of a strike by the beadmakers, acting under the aegis of Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN). Bread, beinga major staple food for many households, means the strike action will hurt consumers who already are struggling with food inflation.
What PBAN said and its demands
The body declared a four-day warning strike over rising cost of flour and other ingredients used in making bread. They threatened to extend the strike if their demands are not met.
Emmanuel Onuorah, PBAN’s president, said bakers are faced with incessant price increase of baking materials and diesel, used in powering their bakeries.
The bakers seek the federal government to halt 15% wheat development levy on wheat imports.
PBAN also wants National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to reduce the N154,000 penalty fee it charges bakeries who default on timely renewal of their operational certificates.
PBAN also called on the government to grant members access to grants and soft loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Minor, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs).
They also called for the stoppage of multi – agencies’ regulation of the breadmaking industry.
What we know:
The prices of bread have gone up across the world, due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Both countries account for 26% of the world’s wheat exports, (as per USDA data.)
Prices of flour in Nigeria
| Flour brand | Price range |
| Golden penny | ₦12,000 – ₦15,000 |
| Dangote flour | ₦13,000 – ₦14,000 |
| Honeywell flour | ₦12,000 – ₦14,000 |
| Mama Gold flour | ₦13,500 – ₦14,000 |
