The strike action embarked upon by the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) and Arewa Master Bakers Forum last week caused bread to disappear from the shelves in several urban centres.
The bakers said they were protesting against sharp increases in the price of ingredients used for baking bread. This is due to the sharp depreciation in the naira’s value against foreign currencies since most of the ingredients in question such as wheat, sugar, baking powder and yeast are imported. Government should take serious note of the bakers’ strike because bread is the major food for the urban poor in all our cities and towns. Some 8000 bakers closed down their bakeries in Kano State alone. The bakers’ Public Relations Officer in the state, Malam Kabiru Hassan, said his members embarked on the strike due to the increase in the price of flour and other bread ingredients. The importance of bread to the urban diet cannot be over emphasized as it is the most versatile food for the urban poor. This was why increase in bread prices has caused riots in many countries around the world.
 

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