Association of Bread makers in Rivers State has informed consumers to prepare for an increase in price soon. The Association of Master, Bakers and Caterers Association of Nigeria (AMBCN) in Rivers State sounded the alarm following the high cost of baking materials.
The Rivers State chairman of the association Chidi Orlu reveal the plan in an interview with our reporter. He said all efforts to have a dialogue with the producers of baking products to maintain a stable price have proved abortive.
Mr Chidi Orlu further said that the move to increase price of bread from next week by 30% was directed by it’s national body after some bakers have closed bakeries due to the inability to cope with the hike in the price of baking materials.
He further said that they have tried all measures to see that they don’t increase the price of bread by reducing staff and reducing weight yet it is impossible. He said instead of feeding Nigerians and Rivers people in particular with junks and poison, the best thing to do is to increase the price and let those that can afford it go for it.
Mr Chidi Orlu however, warns consumers against buying cheap bread. He said some bakers who are desperate to remain in business don’t bake with materials approved by the National Agency for Food,Drugs, Administration and Control(NAFDAC). He also said that if any dealer or bakery sells below what the association has approved or will approve from next week, then there is no doubt that such bakery is using poison for production.
The chairman of the Association further call on NAFDAC and Rivers State Ministry of Health to step up in the monitoring of bakeries, to ensure that all baker’s comply with the basic requirements. Adding that they don’t have the lab to confirm who is using wrong or bad products and as an association, they can not close someone’s bakery.
Mr Chidi Orlu also revealed that he has gone to the commissioner of health in Rivers State when he saw that NAFDAC was not really forth coming, and he was told that something will be done about it, which they have not done anything.
Talking about building specialist hospital that will be used to treat people for cancer and liver related challenges, Mr Chidi Orlu advised government to be more interested in things that would prevent those things from happening. Adding that it is cheaper to prevent than to cure.
