“Save Us! BUA Group, Others Are Killing Our Businesses,” Bakers Beg FG

The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), Abuja, has urged the federal government to intervene in the recent price hike of flour by BUA Group – IRS Flour Mill (owned by billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu), Super Four Mill, and Golden Confectionery, claiming that the hike is killing their businesses and may result in the abolition of many jobs if no action is taken.

In an exclusive interview on Monday, Kabiru Hassan Abdullahi, the association’s national publicity secretary who also serves as the state secretary for Kano State, claimed that the price of flour was N9,500 not long ago but has now risen to N16,200.

According to Abdullahi:, “The federal government should please come to our aid. The hike is killing our businesses and it’s sad they have refused to do anything about it.

“The increment is over 50 per cent and it’s even more saddening because even with the dollar exchange rate of N1 to over N500, we still bought flour at same N9,500; but why is it now that the rate has dropped that they increasing the price? This is pure wickedness.

“What Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group, IRS, super and golden confectionery are doing is unhealthy for us and the Nigerian economy. In fact, they are planning to increase it again by N7, 000. Can you can imagine?

“One thing they should know is that if we are scrapped out of the market, the rate of unemployment in the country will double up because many in their thousands will lose their jobs.

“We are still meeting and as things stand, we may have no choice than to embark on an indefinite strike.“

Recall that bread makers and the Gurasa Bakers Association of Kano state had threatened to embark on indefinite strike if the flour companies (BUA Group – IRS, Super Mill and Golden Confectionery) fail to reverse the price of flour.

Gurasa is a flour-based Kano indigenous local bread that is a popular delicacy among Hausa people in the state.

The Gurasa Bakers Association’s chairperson, Fatima Auwalu, stated that nothing has changed since they called off the warning strike; rather, it is increasing day by day, leading them to go on indefinite strike until authorities and stakeholders take action.

She went on to explain that, in addition to the price rise, the product’s quality has deteriorated, and that “this has negatively impacted our business”.