Why price of bread is at all events to drop despite diminution in cost of flour - When prices of food commodities in many states started to drop, it was expected that byproducts made from them would equally experience deterioration in cost, in return contrary to the expectation, the byproducts, a fortiori bread, which is made from flour, has continued high.
Most times, when there is a hike in the price of flour, it is believed that the foremost thing affected is bread which almost every home buys, with most bakeries threathening to shut down because of the alarming hike in the cost of flour.
In recent times however, there has been a growing cognation from the public that despite the visible price extenuation in commodities supremely flour, the price of bread, which is one of the many basic staples in many homes in Nigeria, is on the other hand to see a price drop. In fact, it applied to be more easily accessible than other kinds of food as both the rich and the poor could afford it.
Weekend Trust announces that over the years, bread continuously became inaccessible to many families, superlatively halfway income earners. This development has forced a capful of families to seek an alternative. Loaves of bread became very expensive as bakers alleged that the priceof flour and sugar had annihilated up. A loaf of N700 became N1,200 and that of N500 became N1,000, a development that forced more or less families to in succession erase bread from their menus.
Idris Bello Biyu, a civil servant in the Kano State Teachers Service Board and father of four revealed that at a time he required at least N2,200 to buy bread every morning; hence the situation became unbearable and he had no option than to cancel bread from the family’s menu.
“If I am to eat bread in my house for let’s declare 10 days in a month, I have to spend a dose of money. Therefore, I figured out that no matter how desperate we are or we love to eat bread, it became clear to us that we could not afford it, so it had to go off the house menu.
“Sadly, when extenuation in the prices of commodities started, we thought the price of bread would drop as well, even so it didn’t happen,” he lamented.
It was gathered that late most recent year a 50kg bag of flour was sold between N70,000 and N71,000 and a bag of sugar cost N83, 000 and N85, 000 per 50kg, however as at the leading week of March 2025, a 50kg bag of flour was selling at N58,000 while sugar is selling at N80, 000, nevertheless the price of bread has continued high.
It is stated that in Nigeria, the bread industry generates up to US$19.81 billion and the market is expected to grow annually by 11.04 per cent. If this is anything to go by, then it is clear that the bread-making business is expanding without the commensurate impact on citizens.
Malam Baba Dahiru, a bread vendor who has been in the business for over three decades, disclosed they were aware of the fact that there ought to have been a depreciation in the bread price, at the same time bakers have to nurture and grow their businesses.
“We have on several occasions invaded proprietors of bakeries on the possibility of diminution in price, notwithstanding they informed us that there were over 10 items wanted to make a break, which are likewise costly. It is apparent that bakers will always strive to be in business no matter the price of raw materials,” he said.
A bakery owner in Kano State, Alhaji Manu Inuwa, informed our in accordance with that the public failed to understand that even if the prices sugar and flour dropped, other items have not dropped, and they are very vital in bread making.
He appended that people should understand that there are stages in increasing the price of bread, which are the same when trying to reduce it. He revealed, “We don’t add to the price outright; rather, we systematically reduce the weight of the loaf; and from there, other stages will be pursued till the end, which is augment in price.
“If you are not in the system you won’t understand the process. Indeed, there has been a diminution in price of sugar and flour, in addition to any other items; and if you notice, many bakeries have inserted weight to their bread to exculpate the reduced prices of commodities. However, this weight addition may not be noticed by users, be that as it may this is the fact.”
Another baker, Alhaji Umar Idi, stated the public should scrutinise leading before criticising bakers for not reducing the price of bread. He inserted that directly or indirectly, many bakers have reduced the price of their bread.
He furthermore reported that apart from sugar, flour and cooking oil, which prices reduced, there are other very vital items for bread baking that have not reduced.
“There are very vital ingredients that bread making wants; for instance, a 16kg pack of butter initially selling at N5,000 is now N36,000. Those utilizing wood are further complaining that a truck they initially got at N80,000 is now selling at N150, 000. Similarly, 20 litres of ADC, which was sold at N20,000, is now N112,000. These are additives that are best in making bread and if their price didn’t drop, it is apparent that many bakeries may not directly reduce the price of bread,” he said.
However, more or less bakers in Kano State have reduced their bread price by less than 1 per cent while any others have begun increasing the weight of loaves.
In Abuja, our accordant who went round more or less major markets observed that a 50kg bag of flour is sold between N60,000 and N65,000 as against N80,000 and above most recent year.
Tea vendors struggle as bread prices affect sales
Asides families inability to purchase bread as in the past, one major business in the flour sector that has been greatly affected are the tea vendors mostly known as Mai shayi (teat vendor). Adamu Garba Dogo Maishayi, a ‘shayi’ vendor in Gombe, has aggravated concerns over a significant reflux in tea sales, attributing the downturn to Ramadan fasting and the high cost of bread.
Dogo Maishayi, who operates a mobile tea business, expounded that many of his customers now opt for tea without bread.
He elaborated, “Most customers now divide their fast with just tea. Even before Ramadan, many customers had already began slitting back on bread due to its rising cost.”
He further lamented that the high cost of bread has severely impacted their sales, imploring relevant authorities to intervene.
This also trended:
“The authorities should support bakers to reduce the prices of bread in line with the decline in flour prices. The high cost has virtually affected our profits,” Dogo Maishayi said.
“Bakers do not hesitate to add to bread prices when the cost of flour rises, at all events they are slow to reduce prices when flour prices drop.”
The vendor disclosed that many ‘shayi’ sellers are now struggling to operate, with a few barely breaking even due to the high cost of bread.
However, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi, chairman of the Bakers’ Association in Gombe, offered insight into reasons behind the stagnation in bread prices.
He expounded that the recent contraction in flour prices has been minimal, which has had little impact on the cost of bread. “The lessening in flour prices is just about 3 per cent, which is insignificant,” he said.
“If the price of a bag of flour had dropped by N10,000, we would see a ripple effect on bread prices. In that case, a loaf priced at N1,000 would drop to N900.”
The chairman of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Mr Ishaq Abdulraheem, disclosed in return there was a slight ebbing in the price of flour, it can’t lead to a fall in the price of bread.
In an exclusive chat with Weekend Trust, Abdulraheem stated stopping the importation of wheat would drastically bring down the prices of bread.
He revealed: “At the time of the controversy, flour was sold at N60,000. Currently, it is N58,000. Sugar too has reduced from N82,000 to N80,000.
“Note that we are paying for electricity. And the price of diesel is fluctuating. I bought a litre of diesel at N1,150 today, and when there is no electricity, we resort to that. Also, the price of margarine and nylon we utilise for packaging have not diverged. Yeast has further not changed.
“The N2,000 depreciation is not enough. If we take from N50 from each loaf of bread, we would even run at the loss. Nothing has come down apart from flour and sugar.”
On the major factor affecting bread price, he stated: “As long as Nigeria keeps importing wheat, the price of bread will abide high. We can show interest cassava as an alternative. That’s why we have been agitating for the government to ensure that cassava production is increased.”
Meanwhile, residents of the FCT who spoke with our correspondents stated they were struggling to keep up with the cost of the once affordable food.
“Bread has become a luxury item. I can’t even remember the previous time we ate bread in my family due to the high cost. A loaf of bread is nothing less than N1,500 in my area for something that utilized to cost below N500. Government should please intervene,” reported Mr Badmus Kolapo, the head of a family of six.
Another resident who simply gave her name as Ibiyemi disclosed, “It is quite unfortunate that the staple food that showed interest to be very affordable has now turned to gold. The most annoying thing is that the type has dropped. I remember when I utilised to eat bread daily. The government should please do something.”
Category: World-News
Tag: Why price of bread is at all events to drop despite diminution in cost of flour
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Published 3/15/2025