Chairman of Rivers State chapter of the Master Bakers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Chidi Emmanuel, has confirmed the increase in the price of bread.
Bread consumers in the state woke up to the price increase on Wednesday without prior notification.
However, the bakers’ association leader confirmed consumers’ suspicion while speaking to newsmen after an emergency meeting of the association in Port Harcourt.
Emmanuel said the high cost of materials, as well as the increase in the cost of cargo clearance by the Central Bank of Nigeria, coupled with the rising cost of energy, had necessitated the increase in the prices of bread.
He said, “There is going to be price increment on all bread sizes from Thursday simply because most of the things we use in producing bread are imported.
“So, if naira has moved from N1,000 a month ago to about N1,500 to the dollar today, prices of things must go up. And that is the position of master bakers, Rivers State branch.
“And it is a nation-wide thing, some states have implemented even before today. There is a directive by the national association to all the states to review their cost of production and increase selling price accordingly.
“So, we are complying with a directives from the national headquarters and it is effective Thursday. It is a decision taken by the association.”
He also said while the prices of bread will increase, the association will maintain standards in the production of bread in the state, urging bread consumers to bear with them.
“My advice to them (consumers) is to keep managing. Let’s believe that there will be improvement in the near future.
“If the price of raw materials come down, we will call a meeting again and reduce the prices downward. If the raw materials continue to go up, we will call a meeting again and review upwards. It is purely an issue of buying and selling.
“So, bread producers should try and maintain standard so that they don’t use banned substances to produce bread.
“It is better to produce small quantity and sell than a large quantity and unable to sell.”
He further advised bread makers to minimize losses by taking the purchasing power into consideration.
