metro
RESIDENTS of Kogi are to pay more for bread as bakers called off their four-day-old strike and increased prices of the essential commodity in the state.
The bakers had, on Tuesday in Lokoja, embarked on strike. It was in protest of the high cost of flour, sugar and fuel, negatively affecting the production and distribution of bread across the state.
Chief Gabriel Bamidele, Chairman, Kogi Bakers Association, said on Saturday that prices of all categories/sizes of bread had increased. He noted that it was due to the hash economic condition in the country.
Bamidele disclosed that the four-day strike had been called off with slight increase in the prices of bread.
“As an association, we have resolved that the first three small categories/sizes of bread will attract only a N50 increment. The bigger ones will attract a N100 increment.
“This means a bread that was sold for N100, N200 and N250 will now cost N150,N 250 and N300.
“Also the big ones that used to cost N800, N1,000, N1,200 and N1,400 will now cost N900, N1,100, N1,300 and N1,500 in the market.
“These increments became imperative given the high cost of flour, sugar, petrol, and engine oil in the country today.
“We hope that the public will understand our plights and cooperate with us to keep us afloat in business,” he said.
The chairman explained that three months back, a bag of flour cost between N38,000 and N40,000 while a bag of sugar cost between N58,000 and N60,000.
Today a bag of flour is N58,000, while that of sugar is N85,000.
Distribution cost
He added: “The cost of distribution is another. This is coupled with the increase in prices of engine oil, whose carton rose from N35,000 to N62,000.
“A car tyre that used to cost N18,000 is now N40,000. This aside the cost of petrol, which is between N650 and N700 per litre at the filling stations,” he said.
He added that bakers now spent between N28,000 and N30,000 to distribute their bread across the state. The bakers’ leader said it used to cost N5,000.
“We all go to the same market. So are very much aware of how costly things are due to the economic hardship in the country,” he explained.
Meanwhile, during the four days strike, bread was almost off the streets. Only a few were seen on the shelves of some supermarkets and shops. (NAN)
2nd March, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Gabriel Bamidele
