Nigerian bakers sound alarm over growing dependence on wheat imports

up production costs and destabilising the bread market. Speaking at PBAN’s 2025 Day-Out Exhibition and Master Class in Lagos, PBAN President Emmanuel Onuorah noted that Nigeria consumes about 5.1 million tonnes of wheat each year, while domestic production barely reaches 300,000 tonnes. This imbalance, he stressed, places enormous strain on bakers, especially as bread remains one of the most accessible and widely consumed staples in the country. Onuorah added that domestic wheat production is being crippled by insecurity, including banditry, kidnappings, and attacks on farmers. Economic pressures have further weakened the sector: from the post-COVID period to 2025, more than 40% of bakeries have shut down, reducing PBAN’s membership from over 100,000 to fewer than 60,000. High energy costs, multiple taxation, double-digit interest rates, and poor infrastructure continue to threaten the viability of bakery businesses nationwide. Despite these challenges, Onuorah commended President ...