Some residents of Awka, Anambra State, have lamented the introduction of stamp duty charges on basic consumables, especially bread, by some supermarkets.

Some department stores in Awka, which also double as bakers, place a charge of N50 on every purchase of N1,000 and above.

While a regular size of bread sells for an average of N1,700 at the supermarket, the price on the streets goes for an average of N2,000.

But some residents said charging stamp duty on bread, which was a basic food item, was not acceptable in the face of the prevailing economic situation.

Godfrey Ezeumeh, who bought a loaf of bread at a popular supermarket in the Kwara area, expressed surprise at the levy of N50.

Mr Ezeumeh said instead of the government forcing supermarkets to collect N50 on bread from members of the public, it should rather subsidise the commodity to enable more people to afford it.

He said it was unacceptable that after paying between N1,600 and N1,800 for a loaf of bread, the customer was still forced to part with an additional N50.

“It is wrong for the government to make people pay stamp duty on bread; bread is a basic food that most families can no longer afford; it should be subsidised so that people can be able to buy it. There was a time when we bought a regular size of bread for between N300 and N400 on the streets because they were everywhere, but now we rely on supermarkets that make bread and pay as much as N1,700,” he said.

A woman who identified herself only as Madam Gloria said there were outlets that did not charge stamp duty.

Ms Gloria said it should be a matter of policy that customers who bought bread and other consumable items such as snacks were not charged stamp duty.

She said producers of bread should be supported so that the price of bread could become affordable, adding that it was unfair that a loaf of bread that could not serve a family of six could cost as much as N2,000.

“I do not know if it is an individual policy of the supermarkets to charge stamp duty on bread while others do not; maybe because they have added it secretly, but the government should intervene by stopping them from doing so,” she said.

(NAN)