The Confectionary and Bread Sellers Association in Zamfara State is urging the federal government to address the surge in the prices of flour and other essential ingredients for bread production in the state and nationwide.
Habibu Alfijir, the vice chairman of the Zamfara State Chamber of Commerce, Mine, and Agriculture, who also serves as the secretary of Alfijir Bread and Confectionary, highlighted the adverse impact of the rising costs on local bakeries.
Many bakery houses, he noted, have been forced to close down due to the increased prices of key ingredients such as sugar and flour.
In a Saturday evening interview in Gusau, Zamfara State, Alfijir expressed concern about the escalation in the prices of bread-making essentials, attributing it to the corresponding rise in the retail price of bread in the state.
He urgently appealed to the federal government to investigate and address the situation.
“The Zamfara State bakery and Bread Sellers have raised their concerns, seeking immediate government intervention, especially regarding subsidies and the ability to purchase dollars from sources outside the central bank,” Alfijir lamented.
He observed that the costs of these commodities have persistently risen, but he acknowledged the efforts of the present leadership of the Zamfara Chamber of Commerce, Mine, and Agriculture, led by Alhaji Hassan Buhari Tafidan Maradun, in supporting bakery houses in the state.
Despite these efforts, Alfijir appealed to both the Federal and State Governments to intervene further and provide assistance to bakery owners, ensuring they can sustain their businesses before the situation becomes unbearable for them.
The request emphasizes the urgency of government support to alleviate the economic challenges faced by the bread-making industry in Zamfara State.
