February 2, 2024

A peaceful protest unfolded in Jakara, Kano, as bakers, predominantly women, voiced their concerns about the exorbitant cost of flour, a staple ingredient for Gurasa, a local bread widely consumed in northern Nigeria.
The leader of the protesting bakers, Fatima Auwal Chediyar, who also heads the Association of Women Gurasa Bakers, warned of a potential indefinite strike if the issue remained unaddressed.
“Previously, a bag of flour cost us N16,000, but now it has skyrocketed to N43,000. How are we expected to cope?” questioned Chediyar, highlighting the immense financial strain this surge has imposed on their predominantly widowed community of bakers.
Chediyar emphasized the crucial role of their business in providing for their families and called for urgent government intervention to alleviate the burden of elevated flour prices.
She further stressed that the surge in flour prices had already compelled many bakers to cease production, posing a significant threat to communities, particularly those with limited resources who rely on Gurasa as a dietary staple.
Alhaji Abdullahi Sulaiman, a trader at the Singger market in Kano, disclosed that a recent price notification from BUA Group, effective February 1st, 2024, had propelled the already inflated flour prices even higher.