.jpg)
Nigerlites addicted to bread consumption have cried out to the federal government for intervention as virtually all the shelves in Minna have run out of stock and as well as homes where bread and tea have become almost mandatory daily. They now have to make do with biscuits.
The scarcity which became more pronounced on Saturday had almost all the bakeries within Minna the state capital out of business while only few rendered skeletal services due to the high cost of essential commodities needed to keep their business going.
Efforts to get the officials of Master Bakers in the state comment on the situation proved abortive as most bakeries were yet to come to terms with the new reality but some dealers who spoke on the development described the situation as the ‘harsh realities of the change’.
Though a few of the dealers still have few loaves of bread on display in their shops, majority of them said they had run out of stock and their suppliers were not forthcoming because they ran out of stock of condiments and again cannot afford the high cost of flour, sugar and other ingredients used in their confectionery business.
One of the dealers, Usman Ya’u had told our correspondent how he expected supply from the bakers that usually sell to him but was shocked to learn that they could not produce because they were short of supply in flour and sugar.
Usman said he was informed by the manager of one of the major bakeries of the possibility of closing shop as most of the condiments used in their business has either not available or gone up to almost 40 percent increase where it was available.
A bag of flour which before now sells for N6, 000 per bag and N200 for a mudu (a bowl used for measuring) respectively has gone up for between N8, 000 and N9, 000 and N200 and N300 within and around Minna the state capital.
Sugar, another major ingredient used in baking bread also recorded noticeable increase in prize. A bag before now sells for N7, 500 and N250 per mudu now sells for between N8, 700 to N9, 500 and N340 and above in major markets in the state.
Mrs. Praise, a mother of three said she is not finding it funny as her children, her husband and an extended family member cannot do without bread which according to her they eat almost on a daily basis.
Praise, a secondary school teacher is therefore appealing to the federal government to intervene by reviewing some policies that affects bread which is about the commonest food within the reach of average Nigerians.
