Residents of Port Harcourt, the capital city of oil rich Rivers State have lamented the increase in prices of bread.
Some residents in Choba, Diobu, Rumuorlumeni and Eagle Island axis of the state told our correspondent that following the state of the economy, the new price makes it difficult for them to purchase bread.
Investigation carried out by our correspondent in some parts of Port Harcourt revealed that there has been an increase of N50 on the price of bread that was N500 and N250. Also, bread that were sold for N100 is now N150 and the cheapest bread of N50 is now N60.
Recalled that Bread Sellers in Rivers State have increased the prices of bread by 10-20% following the upward review by the Master Bakers Association of Nigeria.
Rivers State Chairman of the Master Bakers Association, Kolawole Adelogun had last week stated that the price of bread will most likely increase across the state due to the high cost of raw materials used for baking.
A wholesale buyer and retailer of bread, Gospel Chima said although the price of bread has increased, he does not feel that his customers will stop patronizing him because a lot of people eat bread.
According to him, “Indeed the price of bread has increased from the bakery and in return, we have to increase our own prices to make our gain. I believe that this increase in price has been due for a very long time because the expenses incurred in baking bread is quite on the high side. I feel that my customers will still patronize me because bread is something that a lot of people consume and moreover, the price is not on the high side”.
He however confirmed that some customers who bought bread around the late hours of Monday lamented the change in price of bread.
Another woman simply identified as Nkechi regretted the increase in price of bread stressing that she did not feel it was necessary.
She said “I sent my son to buy bread yesterday and he came back to tell me that the bread we usually buy for N250 is now N300. Why will they increase the price of bread now? That N50 extra is what we would have used to buy an extra sachet of milk. Everything just seems to be on the high side in this country. First, it was fuel, now it is bread. I am tired”.
Kelechi, a student residing around Choba said he has no choice but to keep buying bread because he is a bread lover.
He said: “I just heard the news this morning when I went out to buy bread. I do not like the fact that the price has increased but I have no choice but to buy bread because it is what I eat every day for breakfast and besides, I am a Nigerian. We can adjust to any situation”. By Henry Okere PH
