Kano Prosecutes 7 Bread Dealers for Allegedly Inflating Prices, Causing Hardship

The Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) announced on Friday that it has obtained a court order to prosecute seven dealers accused of inflating the prices of essential commodities, particularly flour, leading to a significant increase in bread prices across the state.

During a meeting with representatives of the essential commodities market, known locally as Singer Market, and the Master Bakers Association, the Chairman of PCACC, Barrister Muhyi Rimingado, disclosed that the identified dealers were responsible for the artificial price hike, exacerbating the economic hardships faced by citizens.

“We have identified seven dealers behind the sharp increase in the prices of flour and noodles in the state and have obtained a court order to prosecute them. One of the major dealers, who is currently at large, has been declared wanted,” Rimingado stated.

He accused the dealers of exploiting the difficult economic situation, marked by nationwide protests against rising living costs, to inflate food prices.

“These unpatriotic merchants took advantage of the situation to sell commodities at exorbitant prices, further compounding the hardship faced by citizens during these trying times,” Rimingado added.

In response to the price hikes, Governor Abba Yusuf convened an interactive meeting with the Singer Market Association and the Master Bakers Association to address the issue. During the meeting, it was revealed that the increase in flour prices was artificially driven by certain unscrupulous marketers. The governor subsequently instructed the PCACC to take immediate action to curtail these artificial price hikes.

Rimingado assured that, following the meeting, an agreement was reached for the Singer Market to supply flour directly to bakers, thereby bypassing the middlemen who had been inflating prices. “After our discussions with both the Bakers and Singer Market Associations, a common ground was reached. The Singer Market will now supply flour directly to bakers, cutting out the middlemen who exploited the protests to inflate prices,” he said.

Supporting this decision, Barrister Junaidu Muhammad, Chairman of the Singer Market, confirmed that a trailer of flour had already been supplied directly to the bakers as part of the new arrangement.