Yobe bakers say inflation may force a 55 percent increase in bread prices.

The Yobe State Bakers Association has announced that bread prices will rise by at least 55 percent in the near future.

Alhaji Manu Isa, the association’s Chairman, said the proposed increase is due to an increase in the general price of baking commodities, among other production costs, in Damaturu, the state capital, on Thursday.

The association raised the price of a loaf of bread by 26% in August 2020 due to “unbearable” baking ingredient costs, according to the association.

Isa pointed out that, in order for members of the association to stay in business and grow their businesses, they must raise bread prices because the prices of most commodities have risen by more than 100 percent with no sign of slowing down.

“The price of flour was N12,000 to N13,000 per 50kg during the last increment, but it has now risen to N22,000 and even N23,000 in some places.”

“The price of yeast, which is an important ingredient in bread making, has increased from N11,000 to N21,000, while another ingredient called improver, which we used to buy for less than N20,000, has increased to N33,000,” he lamented.

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He went on to say that bakeries have ceased production, forcing those still in business to raise their prices or risk becoming obsolete.

“We used to have over 90 bakery houses in Damaturu alone, but due to high production costs and insurgency, the number has now dropped to 30, which is very unfortunate,” Alhaji Isa lamented.

He urged the government to provide soft loans to members of the association in order for them to weather the storm.

“This is a business that employs a large number of unemployed youths, but the government appears to have no understanding of this,” he said.

Some Damaturu residents who spoke out about the situation urged the government to intervene by assisting the bakers in any way possible.

 according to Tahir Mallam, Gambo Usman, and Mrs Habiba, and any increase would only exacerbate problems for the masses.

Others who rely on bread for breakfast said they would have to find another option because bread would soon be out of reach.