A massive gathering of women, predominantly local bread producers, stormed the historic street of Kano on Friday, vehemently protesting the escalating cost of living, specifically the surge in the price of flour, a crucial ingredient in the production of the region’s staple food.
Chants echoed through the air as hundreds of women, accompanied by children, voiced their frustration, declaring, “Everything is expensive, especially flour and grains. Tinubu, come to our aid! We cannot feed our families, most of us are widows, and people are dying of hunger.”
Speaking on their behalf, Hajia Fatima Auwai, the leader of the group, passionately demanded improved living conditions during a time when rampant inflation is exacerbating the challenges faced by the local populations.
“We are out here on the streets protesting to make the leaders aware of the deteriorating situation we are currently facing,” Fatima explained.
She emphasized the impact of rising flour prices on their small-scale businesses, asserting, “This is a business for the poor that the rich cannot dare venture into. Life is becoming more difficult, we can hardly feed or send our children to school due to this hardship,”
Expressing the dire circumstances, Fatima lamented, “Many have lost their capital. Only 25 percent of us that started this business few years ago remain in business as many others have closed down due to lack of capital.”
Highlighting the drastic price surge, she revealed, “We used to buy flour at the rate of N16,000 in the past, but now it sells for N43,000. This is absurd. What we produce is a common food for the poor and is now becoming unaffordable, Anytime we go to buy flour, we face an increase of N1,500 to N2,000.”
As both the leader of the protest and the Chairperson of local Gurasa producers in Kano, Fatima urgently called on authorities and concerned parties to address the matter promptly, as the industry faces the threat of closure, further impacting the livelihoods of the producers and the general public alike.
“Currently, we cannot afford it any longer. If nothing is done, we have no choice but to close down, and this will affect the general public,” she cautioned.
