News

Bakers, Millers Disagree Over Flour Price Hike

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2023

Bakers under the aegis of Premium Bread Makers Association have disagreed with the claim by flour millers that the price of flour has not been increased in the last one year.

This came as the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria announced on Thursday that bread prices would be increased by 15 per cent nationwide beginning from July 24.

While speaking with The PUNCH, President PBAN, Emmanuel Onuorah, said that flour millers, in the wake of the devaluation of the naira had implemented another increase in the price of flour.

According to him, increased input costs in recent months had further exacerbated the plight of bakers who were already being burdened by a vast array of macroeconomic challenges.

He stated that many of his members had abandoned the business of breadmaking due to the numerous challenges in the business environment.

Onuorah said, “They are gouging price. They just do whatever they want, they were telling us before now that they source their forex from the black market. Now that the government has taken away the official window we have discovered that they were getting forex from the banks.

“They’re going to implement the increase in the price of flour in tranches. They have added N2,000, with the possibility of adding another N3,000. I don’t know when, but that’s their plan. In the last three months, they have added N10,000 to the price of sugar. 150kg bag of sugar has gone up by N10,000.”

The recent removal of fuel subsidy and devaluation of the naira, he said, had led to significant increase in the overhead costs of breadmakers who were being forced to produce below optimal capacity.

He added, “Many of our distributors are using fuel. If they were using N4,000, today if they buy N4,000 fuel it doesn’t go anywhere. So it is affecting distribution. Most of them are leaving this business.”

Onuorah said the leadership of the union had already instructed the members to adjust prices in light of the recent developments in order to keep up with production costs.

“We have started doing it individually without necessarily giving any percentage adjustment. If any bakery does not adjust price, they will close down.

“Mind you, PBAN members are not increasing price, but making marginal adjustments to be able to match escalating costs with revenue, which by the way is disproportionate in terms of revenue.”

Reacting, the Corporate Communications Manager at Flour Mills of Nigeria, Modupe Thani, denied the claim by PBAN that the price of flour had been increased

“The price of four has not gone up, and it hasn’t gone up in recent times. I’m not sure where that story is coming from. I also spoke with my people in-house and they said nothing like that has happened. The price of flour has not been increased for more than one year.”

The General Secretary of the Flour Mills Association of Nigeria, Saliu Olalekan, refused to comment on the matter on the ground that the association would not get involved in matters revolving around the price of the product.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

6 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

6 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

6 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.