Mr Emmanuel Onuorah, the President of Premium Breadmakers Association of Nigeria (PBAN) said on Wednesday 20th July 2022 that operating a bakery in Nigeria has become near impossible due to increase in the prices of baking materials and diesel in the country.
The Association has resolved to a four day warning strike today July 21 to protest against unbearable increment of carrying out bread making business/activities in Nigeria.
Mr Emmanuel said members of PBAN which includes owners, managing directors and partners of premium bakeries in Nigeria are mostly running on huge losses and it is making the bakery business no longer sustainable.
He said:
“In a move to ensure the survival of the Premium breadmaking industry in Nigeria, we have decided to embark on a withdrawal of services beginning from Thursday 21st July, 2022 for four days in the first instance and where no intervention from the government, we shall escalate the duration of the withdrawal,”
“The reasons for the withdrawal of services is as follows:
1. Incessant increase in price of baking materials; Request Federal Government to stop charging 15 per cent Wheat development levy on wheat import;
2. Request NAFDAC to review downwards the 154,000 naira penalty charged bakeries on late renewal of certificates;
3. Grant members access to grants and soft loans being given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs)
4. Stoppage of multi – agencies regulation of the breadmaking industry.”
Mr Emmanuel further disclosed that they have had series of meetings with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja (FMITI) with sister association in the breadmaking industry in 2021 but non has yielded result.