When Influencers Become Hirelings: BUA Never Increased Price Of Sugar, Pasta

When a few days ago a social commentator raised the alarm over the unconventional ways BUA’s competitors have been fighting him since he singlehandedly brought down price of cement, some didn’t take it serious.

Within the last forty eight hours or so, we have seen two major social media influencers set out to deliberately attack the BUA initiative.

First was the write-up by Kemi Olunloyo who prides herself in giving illogical interpretations to facts even ordinary eyes can see. In her attempt to vilify BUA, she claimed there is a link between the increase in the price of Spaghetti and the reduction of cement by BUA.

Adept as she claimed to be in investigative reporting, all she had to do was to Google and find out more about the biggest players in the spaghetti flour and sugar businesses and what are the price ranges now.

She didn’t stop there. To show that she was really dancing to the drumbeat of her paymasters, she went ahead to accuse BUA of bad business practices without any proof, evidence either correlating or non correlating facts.
It is obvious Kemi Olunloyo does not know much about the NIGERIAN sugar, pasta and Flour sector.

Two years ago, there was outcry from Dangote and others that BUA sugar factory should be closed down. They went as far as petitioning the Industry Minister, Adeniyi Adebayo. The reason behind the petition was that Dangote and other big players have a habit of increasing sugar price as Ramadan and Christmas approach.

BUA was called to join but BUA refused. They felt uncomfortable and petitioned the Minister. Eventually the ministry intervened and allowed BUA to continue in business. BUA has never been at vanguard of increasing prices unjustifiably.

Anyone who want to find out the price of BUA sugar can verify, it is still the cheapest in the market. The major producers of Flour and pasta in Nigeria are Flour Mills and Olla both companies owned by Indians and Greeks. BUA only comes third. It smirks of mischief therefore to say that a small player in the sector has increased his price. This, again points to the fact that someone somewhere is trying to whip up sentiments against BUA.

Our findings reveal that the prices of BUA flour and pastries are also the cheapest in the market compared to the bigger players. To now say there is a correlation between a non-existing price increase in the sector and reduction of cement price shows that someone is trying to fool Nigerians.

As if this unsubstantiated allegations were not enough, a few hours later it was Tunde EDNUT who posted a video disparaging the recent slash in the price of cement by BUA. In a video posted by Tunde Ednut on Instagram, a cement seller claimed that BUA does not have the capacity to meet the demand that its reduction in price generated. The retailer, who obviously looked like another hireling smiles to the camera as he explained that distributors still have to pay for diesel.

Curiously the interviewer could not ask whether they were not transporting cement when the price was higher and why it is now that the issue of diesel is now a major clog in the BUA attempt to bring the price of cement down. Funnily in his calculation, the cost of diesel per litre was added to the cost of cement as if it is only one bag that the 1 litre diesel would be used in ferrying.

Interviewing a retailer over issues relating to manufacturing and distribution of any product really betrayed the purpose of the interviewer. The cement seller spoke from two sides of the mouth. First he said the price reduction was on social media and that they haven’t been notified (as if he expects a formal letter) only for him to say in the next statement that there are queues of distributors waiting to collect product at BUA factories.

Ever since BUA Chairman announced the reduction in the price of cement, other manufacturers have been jittery. Rather than effecting the same reduction to allow Nigerians enjoy some form of relief, they have taken to the media to discredit the move.

They not only claimed that BUA cannot sell at that price but also alluded to the unavailability of the product while they go behind to collude with distributors to rebag BUA cement and sell at higher cost.

It is a known fact that Dangote rather than increase the price of cement decided to offer distributors who buy seven trucks one truck free. This is verifiable.

Who benefits from the free truck given to distributors after they purchase seven? Will this even trickle to the commoner who buys cement?

It is obvious that those who are against the price reduction are hell bent on giving wrong impression to the public. They have found willing tools among influencers who shine by dishing out half-truths.

Those who are buying cement from the various factories know what is happening and it is only a matter of time the truth will come out.