An acute scarcity of bread, a staple food for many Nigerians, has hit Kaduna, Katsina, and Kano States, causing prices to soar dramatically. Correspondents from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that bread has become as scarce as petrol and precious metals, leaving residents scrambling for alternatives like noodles, millet porridge, and bean cake.
The price of bread has increased by 20 to 40 percent, making it unaffordable for many. Bakers have halted production since July 1, 2024, citing the scarcity and high cost of wheat flour, sugar, oil, and other ingredients. A 50kg bag of flour that cost N53,000 to N55,000 in June now sells for N67,000 to N70,000, making it difficult for bakers to break even.
In Kaduna, tea and bread seller Haidar Basiru, who used to buy 100 loaves of bread daily, can now only get 30 loaves, which sell out quickly. Provisions seller Mrs. Kafayat Sadiq has been unable to stock bread in her shop, and consumers like Abdullahi Muhammad have turned to alternatives like spaghetti for breakfast.
The situation is similar in Katsina and Kano States, where bread prices have doubled. A loaf that previously sold for N200 now costs N400 in Katsina, while in Kano, a loaf has jumped from N600 to N800. Residents and shop owners are finding it increasingly difficult to secure bread for sale and consumption, hoping for a swift resolution to the crisis.
