Nigerian bakers take to the streets over high flour prices

NIGERIA – Hundreds of producers of local bread, popularly known as Gurasa, have protested the rise in price of flour in the country saying it is threatening their business.

The producers, mostly women, took to the streets in the ancient city of Kano on Friday to express their anger over the incessant rise in price of flour.

The protesters wielded placards with various inscriptions written in both Hausa and English that included, “High costs of flour are our business”, “High flour prices unacceptable “, and “Flour price is too high in Nigeria; we need help,” among others.

Speaking to journalists during the protest, Fatima Auwal, the chairperson of the Kano State Gurasa Bakers Association said that more than half of the bakers have been sent out of business because of soaring prices of flour.

According to her, they had been protesting against the rising price of the commodity since when it reached N16,000  (US$17)  per bag but now, it is N43,000 (US$45) per 50kg bag.

Though, all flour mills have increased prices,  Auwal particularly mentioned IRS as the product they solely use to make Gurasa, calling on manufacturing company, BUA, to consider their plights to make the price affordable.

 “We are out here on the streets protesting to let the leaders know the situation we have found ourselves in at the moment,”

 “We solely use IRS Flour produced by BUA, because it is the best for our production but the price is too high for us. Whenever we go to purchase flour, we get an increase of at least N1,500 on the price of a bag of flour,” She said.

She further noted that, many have lost their capital; hence, only 25 percent of local bakers are now in the business as many others have closed down due to lack of capital.

She revealed that efforts to contact the management of BUA Company in Kano failed, as its major dealers could not be reached.

The wheat flour issue has been on the rise in Nigeria, prompting bakers to hike the prices of bread.

Last year, the Rivers State chapter of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers notified consumers in the state to prepare for a new price regime effective July 31, as bakers grapple with the cost of production.

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