An acute scarcity of bread, one of Nigeria’s most popular staple foods, has struck Kaduna, Katsina, and Kano States, plunging residents into a tale of woes.
The Punch Headlines obtained that bread has become as scarce as petrol or gold in these regions. The scarcity has driven prices sky-high, forcing many residents to turn to other, not-so-cheap alternatives such as noodles, millet porridge, bean cake, and bread with beans.
The price of bread has surged by 20 to 40 percent, exacerbating the financial strain on consumers. Shop owners and consumers alike have lamented the situation, calling for urgent measures to address the crisis.
A baker in Kaduna, speaking anonymously to NAN, explained that the scarcity and high cost of wheat flour, sugar, oil, and other additives have halted bread production since July 1, 2024. “In June, a 50kg bag of flour cost between N53,000 and N55,000. Now, it has skyrocketed to between N67,000 and N70,000. How can we produce bread and also break even under this precarious situation?” the baker lamented.
In Kaduna State, bread sellers and consumers expressed their frustration. Haidar Basiru, a tea and bread seller, noted that he usually buys 100 loaves of bread but could only get 30 due to the ongoing scarcity. “The bakeries are on strike due to the hike in flour and sugar prices. This has seriously affected our business as we usually operate in the mornings and evenings. Most of my colleagues in Kasuwan Barci have not opened today,” he said.
Mrs. Kafayat Sadiq, a provisions seller, reported being unable to stock bread in her shop since Tuesday, citing her supplier’s complaints about the high cost of flour. Another resident, Abdullahi Muhammad, recounted his morning struggle to buy bread for breakfast, ultimately settling for spaghetti as an alternative for his children.
In Katsina State, the situation is similarly dire. Aliyu Idris from Funtua Local Government Area reported that bread prices have doubled. “A loaf of bread that was selling for N200 now goes for N400. This price hike has affected all bread sizes,” he said. Tea sellers and shop owners are also struggling to procure bread for their customers.
In Kano State, residents echoed the distress seen in Kaduna and Katsina. One resident highlighted that a loaf of bread formerly selling for N600 now costs N800.
As the bread scarcity continues to impact daily lives and businesses, residents are calling for swift intervention to alleviate the crisis.
