Consumers of bread in Taraba State have been compelled to seek alternative meals following the strike action currently embarked on by master bakers across the state.
The action, which began last week, is affecting residents negatively especially those who rely on bread as their major food.
Their reason for the ongoing action is to voice out their displeasure over the growing increase in flours and other baking materials.
Some of the bakers who spoke with journalists attached their actions to the apron string of the high cost of flours and other baking materials.
Citing the high cost of a bag of Golden Penny flour which they said has skyrocketed to over N22,000 per bag, Sule Isa, a baker said ” how many of such bags can we purchase to keep our business moving?”
Conducting our correspondent round the premises of his bakery, the daily increased of bakery products, he said has forced him to cut down the number of his staff from 22 to 10.
Also speaking, another baker, Usman Danlami who also frowned at the increase in the cost of baking materials said their decision to shut down became necessary in order to attract government attention “to what we are going through in our efforts to contribute to the economic growth of our dear state and the country.”
Aliyu Mayan, a baker who also added his voice to those of his colleagues said they have resolved to press home their demands by embarking on “this strike.”
He admitted that should their demand be turned down by the authorities, the bakers will be left with the option of increasing the prices of their products.
Madam Becky, a mother of three who claimed that her children cannot do without taking tea and bread before leaving for school, said the scarcity of the product,” now makes me to wake up as early as 4 am to get their breakfast ready.”
Those involved in the sale of bread to earn their daily livings have as well begun to seek alternative businesses.
Udi Joseph who claimed to have been in the business of bread selling for several years said the strike which commenced last week has forced him to start thinking of venturing into a different business.
Tea sellers who are popularly known as Mai Shayi are also facing low patronage over the product’s scarcity.
