Lagos bakers fault N2.2bn cassava bread fund disbursement

The bakers, at a meeting in Lagos, said though the fund which the federal government is disbursing through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture/Bank of Industry (BOI) to Nigerian master bakers is a welcome development and highly appreciated, but as a matter of urgency it requires a review.The chairman of Lagos State chapter of the association, […]

The bakers, at a meeting in Lagos, said though the fund which the federal government is disbursing through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture/Bank of Industry (BOI) to Nigerian master bakers is a welcome development and highly appreciated, but as a matter of urgency it requires a review.
The chairman of Lagos State chapter of the association, Prince Jacob Adejorin, said no master baker in Lagos State has enjoyed the facility since 2013, which led to the agitation by members of the association on the need for review.
He said with over 50,000 master bakers in over 5,000 bakeries in Lagos State, only 34 master bakers have been trained and four selected as beneficiaries for the empowerment.
This, he said, is grossly in adequate because Lagos master bakers constitute more than 50% of master bakers in Nigeria.
He described the N14 million given to each beneficiary as being on the high side and not reflecting the reality of the current economic situation in the country.
Adejorin noted that bakers may find it difficult to repay because the baking industry is seriously challenged at this time.
He suggested that N5 million should be enough for each existing bakery to adapt to the production of cassava bread.
 He said that the N5 million per baker will allow the fund set aside by government to reach more master bakers and therefore, create more impact on the cassava bread production.
Anjorin also noted that going through intermediaries to access the fund is counter-productive.
He said: “We suggest that each state be allowed to deal with Bank of Industry (BOI) in order to address the peculiar problem of the state.
“The initiative as it affects the master bakers should be addressed with dispatch to achieve the set goals, objectives, avoid rancor and rumour mongering among our membership which is not healthy for our growth and development.
“We appeal to the President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, through Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina to look into this issue as a matter of urgency and find a more justifiable way of assisting the master bakers to achieve the inclusion of cassava flour in bread production.
“We in Lagos State pledge our support to the federal government on this laudable project and do hope that this issue will be resolved for us to access the cassava bread fund and commence production immediately, he added.”