The recent hike in the price of bread and other confectionaries has been so worrisome to the residents of Port Harcourt that moved them to lament over such, as a result of the increase in fuel pump price. This has generally affected the economy.
Many bread industries had since closed down while many others are producing below capacity. The few surviving ones could only slightly increase the price to survive.
Following the complaints of Port Harcourt residents over the recent increase in the price of bread, the Association of Masters Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter is appealing to the people to bear with them that the recent hike in the cost of bread is owing to the recent rise in the prices of flour, sugar, yeast, and other baking materials.
The chairman of the association Dr. Chidi Orlu in an interview with our reporters further explained that the country’s current economic reality has impacted negatively on bakers’ production costs.
“We are all in the same market, with the same economy. All the raw materials without exception used in producing bread has gone up due to the hike in petroleum product” he stated.
Dr. Chidi Orlu however pleaded with the people to understand with them, that if they don’t adjust the prices of their product, many more bakeries will go out of business and there will be situations where people will be given poison in the name of bread. Adding that the little increase is in the interest of the general public and to keep them in business.
Still on the hike in the cost of production material, the chairman of the Water Production Association of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, Egberi Mackson said Rivers residents should expect further increase in the price of sachet water if the price of dollar continues to rise. Mr Mackson revealed that the current price of a bag of sachet water in Rivers State which is three hundred and fifty naira was decided by the association to ease the current economic challenges residents are facing. But looking at the continuous rise of the dollar, they will be left with no other option than to increase the price of sachet water.
