Prices of all categories of bread have been reviewed upward by about 30 per cent in Omu-Aran, Kwara, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. NAN investigation revealed that the noticeable increase, which caught most bread consumers and sellers in the area unawares, became pronounced on Eid-el-Fitr celebration day, Wednesday, July 6.

NAN reports that the Bakers Association in Irepodun Local Government Area had in February embarked on a three-day warning strike in Omu-Aran to protest high cost of baking materials.

The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Rafiu Bakare, told NAN that prices of baking materials had increased beyond what members could afford, hence the warning strike was carried out to sensitise the public. He said the strike was called off after the association had resolved to effect an upward review of prices of all categories of bread.

Bakare, however, told NAN on Thursday that the latest increase became inevitable as the prices of baking materials had continued to rise unabated. He said the prices of raw materials like baking flour, sugar, yeast and firewood had increased by over 100 per cent, aside other payments in respect of salaries to bakery employees.

Bakare said that the development had forced some bakers out of business, while others who managed to stay had been running their bakeries at a loss.

"A bag of flour even before the last adjustment in bread price was N8,600 in Omu-Aran but had risen to a whooping N11, 000, while a bag of sugar now costs N9, 000 as against the old price of N7, 000. You may also like: APC ward congress: police deploy 3200 personnel in Kwara "This is aside the unstable prices of nylon, firewood and other materials," he told NAN.

Bakare said the executives had in a recent meeting agreed to carry out slight adjustment in the prices of categories of bread in relation to the price of raw materials, for members to make profit.

He said that an adjustment of N10 increase was agreed for N70, N80, N120, N150, N200 worth of breads. The chairman urged the relevant government agencies to assist the association to facilitate the downward review of the prices of baking raw materials occasioned by the rise in dollar against the naira.

He also called for the understanding of bread consumers as regards the new price adjustment, promising to maintain quality in the production of bread. A bread seller, Mrs Afusat Abubakr, said that it would take a while to adjust to the new increase by both bread consumers and sellers. (NAN)