The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), Ebonyi Chapter, says it will withdraw its services in the state from July 13 as directed by its national body.
Felix Eze, president of the association in Ebonyi, revealed this on Saturday in Abakaliki after his meeting on the action scheduled to last two weeks.
Mr. Eze said the decommissioning was necessitated by the Federal Government’s alleged insensitivity to the plight of bakers across the country that had negatively affected their businesses.
“The prices of bakery materials are constantly increasing, as a bag of flour that used to cost 25,000 naira now costs more than 27,000 naira.
“We are not embarking on the measure to the detriment of our customers, but to help them and improve our businesses,” he said.
The state president urged the federal government to urgently address challenges to ensure bakers serve the people properly.
“The government should cut relevant taxes and control the ever-increasing exchange rate of foreign currencies.
“The producers of bakery products affirm that such an increase influences the prices of the materials.
“The government must ensure that producers access foreign exchange at low rates, since bakery products are among the cheapest foods that citizens have access to,” he said.
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Felix Chimereze, the association’s secretary of state, said his colleagues decided to act now after a long time of regret.
“Nigerians are aware of the dire economic situation in the country and the additional challenges required our action.
“We urge our customers to be patient with us as normalcy will return when issues are resolved,” he said.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that on July 6, the South East Zone association leadership ordered the zone states to comply with the national body’s directive on decommissioning.