Hunger as acute bread scarcity hits Kaduna, Katsina, Kano

Residents of Kaduna, Katsina, and Kano states are facing an acute shortage of bread, a staple food for many Nigerians.

The scarcity has led to significant price hikes, making bread unaffordable for many families.

The price of bread has increased by 20 to 40 percent, forcing residents to turn to alternatives like noodles, millet porridge, bean cake, and bread with beans. Shop owners and consumers have expressed their frustration over the situation, calling for urgent measures to address the crisis.

One baker in Kaduna explained the situation, saying, “We have had to stop production since July 1, 2024, due to the scarcity and high cost of wheat flour, sugar, oil, and other additives. In June, a 50kg bag of flour cost between N53,000 and N55,000, but now it’s between N67,000 and N70,000. It’s impossible to produce bread and break even under these conditions.”

The scarcity has severely impacted businesses and daily life. Haidar Basiru, a tea and bread seller in Kaduna, said he could only obtain 30 loaves of bread instead of his usual 100. “The bakeries are not on strike, but they have stopped production due to the hike in flour and sugar prices. This has seriously affected our business operations,” Basiru lamented.

Mrs. Kafayat Sadiq, a provisions seller, shared similar sentiments, stating that she hasn’t been able to stock bread since Tuesday due to the high cost of flour.

Residents like Abdullahi Muhammad have had to find alternatives for their families. “I went to buy bread for breakfast, but there was none available. I had to buy spaghetti for my children instead. I hope this issue is resolved soon,” Muhammad said.

In Kano State, the price of a loaf of bread has risen from N600 to N800, further illustrating the widespread impact of the scarcity.

The situation underscores the urgent need for intervention to stabilize the supply and pricing of essential food commodities in the affected states

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(Vanguard)