By Steve Agbota
ASSOCIATION of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), Lagos State chapter, has said it never authorised an increase in the price of bread from the prevailing prices in the state.
The clarification came as bread consumers in Lagos lamented recent price increases slammed on the staple food by distributors across the state. According to the AMBCN, price of bread should be pocket-friendly as one of the cheapest foods for the common man.
Some consumers who spoke to Daily Sun, disclosed that the prices of bread were increased by 10 per cent from N200 to N250 and N300 respectively, while the unsliced one popularly known as ‘Agege bread’ moved from N100 to N120 and N150 and others from N150 to N200 and N220 depending on the size.
But speaking with Daily Sun, the Chairman of AMBCN, Lagos chapter, Prince Jacob Adejorin, said the association has not in any way increased the price of bread in the state because of cassava inclusion, as the association is still managing the situation.
He added: “I, as the Chairman of Lagos State Master Bakers, has not increased the price of bread in Lagos State and I will not do soon. Anybody that increases the price of bread is not including cassava flour in bread making contrary to the Federal Government policy. Government needs to stop some people who are making bread in their homes from selling to people at any price they wished as some of them contain bromate, which is poisonous to health.”
He said those who increased the price of bread in the state are not members of Master Bakers Association as all members of AMBCN in Lagos state are registered with NAFDAC use cassava inclusion in bread making.
On cassava inclusion compliance, he said the association has cried out to the Federal Government for inclusion into the a-day-meal scheme that bakers’ cassava bread should be introduced to students. He urged government and its agencies like NAFDAC to encourage anybody who desires to set up baking business to register with the Association of Master Bakers of Nigeria.
Adejorin explained: “The lawyers have Law School where they can practice, ICAN members also have where they practice, not to talk of the edible food that people are going to eat. Something that people are to eat should be under control. There must be an association like master bakers through Lagos State; even NAFDAC should ask those who are starting baking business to produce their certificate of membership before giving them NAFDAC registration paper.