The Ebonyi State chapter of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) says it will withdraw its services from July 13 over the federal government’s alleged insensitivity to their plights.

Chairman of the association in Ebonyi, Felix Eze, disclosed this on Saturday in Abakaliki after a meeting on the action scheduled to last for two weeks.

“The prices of bakery materials increase steadily as a bag of flour which hitherto cost N25,000 presently costs more than N27,000.

“We are not embarking on the measure to the detriment of our customers, but to assist them and enhance our businesses,” he said.

The state chairman urged the federal government to urgently address the challenges to ensure bakers dutifully render their services to the people.

“The government should cut relevant taxes and check the ever-increasing exchange rate of foreign currencies. The producers of bakery products claim that such increment influences the prices of the materials.

“The government should ensure that the producers access foreign currencies at low rates as bakery products are among the cheapest food items the citizens’ access,” he said.

Felix Chimereze, the state secretary of the association, said that his colleagues decided to act now after bemoaning the plights for long.

“Nigerians are aware of the country’s dire economic situation, and the added challenges necessitated our action. We urge our customers to bear with us as normalcy will return when the issues are addressed,” he said.

The South-East zonal leadership of the association on July 6 directed states in the zone to comply with the national body’s directive on withdrawing service. 

(NAN)