Zamfara is currently grappling with a severe bread shortage, as no fewer than 150 bakeries have been forced to cease operations following mounting economic quagmire in Nigeria.
This alarming development was revealed by Alhaji Habibu Abdullahi, the Secretary of the Nigeria Association of Master Bakers and Caterers, during a press briefing in Gusau, the state capital.
The closure of the bakeries has been attributed to the skyrocketing prices of baking materials and ingredients.
Essential commodities such as flour, sugar, and butter, which are integral to bread production, have seen a significant price surge not only in Zamfara but across the country.
The cost of flour has escalated to N43,000, while sugar prices have soared to N62,500.
This economic predicament has led to a decline in patronage, prompting the association to appeal to the Federal Government for intervention.
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The association has urged the government to curb the inflation rate of essential commodities in the country.
In the meantime, the association has expressed gratitude to customers for their understanding and cooperation and has requested their patience during these challenging times.
This crisis coincides with a projection by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that 26 million people across Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory could face a food crisis between June and August 2024.
This projection follows an unusual lean season marked by numerous shocks, including persistent insecurity situations like insurgency and banditry, conflicts over natural resources, high inflation impacting the cost of food and agricultural inputs, and severe dry spells in some states immediately after the onset of rains.
The association has underscored the urgent need for federal intervention to halt the continuous price hikes of essential commodities.
The situation in Zamfara serves as a stark reminder of the economic challenges confronting the country, necessitating immediate action to prevent further escalation.