The bakery sector in Abuja, Nigeria is currently facing rising raw material costs, leading to increased prices of bread and pastries. Bakers in the area expressed their concerns in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Solomon Amedu, manager of a bakery in Bwari, said prices of bread, donuts, burgers and other pastries had to be increased, discouraging shoppers. Bread prices have already increased three times in 2023 due to rising prices of baking raw materials. This trend continued in 2024, forcing the bakery to reduce its production due to the drop in customers, particularly for bread.
Amedu said the bakery’s production declined after the price of different types of bread increased. They used to bake twice a day and sell more than 100 loaves, but now they only produce 60 loaves a day, in addition to 20 donuts and 20 burgers. Customers are now turning to cheaper, smaller-sized breads.
For her part, Cynthia Okoye, another baker, has also noticed a decline in her business due to the increase in raw material costs. In particular, she pointed out that customers now prefer to buy biscuits and drinks for birthdays instead of ordering cakes.
Malam Shefiyu Aminu, a trader, also observed an increase in food prices due to the fluctuation in the dollar exchange rate. This unfavorable situation weighs on the entire food sector in the region.
The current situation highlights the challenges facing local bakers in Abuja due to rising production costs. Hopefully, sustainable solutions will be found to alleviate these economic pressures and support the local baking industry.