Economy

FCCPC Makes Fact-Finding Mission to Markets in Osun

By Web News 412

By Mojisola Oladele

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, visited some major markets in Osun State on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the factors responsible for the hike in food prices.

Radio Nigeria correspondent reports that the officials of the Commission visited Olufi Market in Ayedaade Local Government and Ifon Market in Orolu Local Government areas of the state.

The FCCPC South-West Zonal Coordinator, Mrs Janet Odo said the visit was to interact with traders’ associations and marketers to ascertain the factors responsible for the continuous hike in food prices in the country.

Mrs. Odo said the commission’s surveillance findings revealed that wholesalers and retailers were allegedly engaging in conspiracy, price gouging, hoarding, and distorting competition in markets across the nation.

She stressed that the visit was to verify the allegations and also sensitize traders on fair market prices.

Mrs. Odo said the FCCPC officials were able to interact with traders, consumers, and those in supply chains to determine the main cause of the hike in food prices.

She emphasized that the commission’s priority remains to unlock the markets and address key consumer protection and competition issues affecting the prices of commodities in the food sector.

“The whole essence is to ensure that the competition and consumers’ protection aspect of our mandate is being executed to ensure that consumers get fair pricing of food commodities.”

“We have been able to gather some facts in the two markets visited, and it will be collated, reviewed, and used as a point of advising the Federal Government.”

In separate interviews ,the leader of the market women association at Olufi Market, Mrs. Bukola Ogunyinka and the leader, market men association in Ifon Market, Mr Muniru Adeyeye, who explained that the hike in food prices was not the fault of the traders, claimed that the removal of the fuel subsidy led to increase in prices of food items.

“We are not the ones inflating the prices of food items. The removal of fuel subsidy, which is reflected in the cost of transportation, is responsible for this.” Mr. Muniru Adeyeye

Also a student, Mary Adetoye, who was in the market to buy food items, said the prices of the food items was getting out of the reach of the poor and appealed to the government to urgently intervene in the situation.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Environment

Lagos Warns Markets, Seals Two for Reckless Waste Disposal

By Web News 506

The Lagos State Government has sealed Oke-Afa market, Isolo, and Katangua market, Abule Egba, for violating waste disposal regulations, including sundry unhygienic practices around the markets, which constitute grave environmental infractions.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mrs Folashade Kadiri.

LAWMA said the closure of the markets became expedient to curb mounting environmental health concerns.

Commenting on the development, the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the government’s zero tolerance for waste initiative which started last year was still on course.

Wahab warned that any market or facility engaging in reckless waste disposal would be sanctioned.

“The government has not jettisoned its zero tolerance for waste initiative which we have been pursuing since last year.

“The only way for markets and traders is to engage in decent and civilised waste disposal practices as outlined by LAWMA

“Any market or facility that runs foul of this arrangement will face sanctions,” Wahab said.

The commissioner assured residents that the markets would remain sealed until stringent hygiene and waste disposal measures are implemented and compliance maintained.

He added that the state government was totally committed to ensuring cleanliness in all parts of the metropolis.

“The health and well-being of our residents are paramount. We cannot allow a few persons to endanger the health of many through irresponsible environmental practices.

“The sealing of these markets is a necessary step to compel compliance and safeguard public health,” Wahab said.

The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, urged various market executives to always mobilise their members to abide by waste management regulations, including the use of the double dino bins provided for markets and observance of hygienic habits in their activities.

Gbadegesin said that the rules of engagement were simple enough, adding that traders were all familiar with them

“Do not dispose of waste recklessly; use the dino bins; shun waste disposal on road medians around markets; deploy waste policing to prevent and apprehend outsiders messing up your markets and pay your waste bills promptly. It is as simple as that,” Gbadegesin said.

He warned that the zero-tolerance initiative would be pursued more vigorously this year, adding that markets that refuse to embrace basic and decent waste disposal practices would not escape sanctions.

Gbadegesin further appealed to market executives to work harder on mobilising their members to do what is right to preserve the environment for the good of everyone.

The LAWMA boss reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment, stressing that cooperation from all stakeholders, including market operators and traders, was crucial.

“LAWMA deploys resources daily to clear waste from markets across the state.

“However, our efforts are often hampered by poor waste Management practice,” Gbadegesin said.

NAN/Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group 

Economy

Yuletide: Litany of Moans from Customers, Traders

By Web News 585

By Fasilat Lawal

A few days to Christmas, traders in Ibadan the Oyo State Capital have lamented low patronage of food commodities as a result of the hike in price.

Radio Nigeria correspondents who visited some major markets in Ibadan such as Bodija, Oja Oba and Apata observed that prices of bags of rice, vegetable oil, palm oil, yam flour and livestock had increased.

A rice seller, Mrs Betty Eze, who said a bag of rice is sold between 58,000 to 60,000 as against that of last year price of 32,000 decried low patronage of the goods.

While 25 litres of vegetable oil is now sold between 40,000 to 41,000 and five litres is between 7000 to 7500 Naira which is higher than that of last year.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the cost of broiler chicken has increased from 7000 to 12,000 and 15,000 depending on the size.

Also, a goat that was sold for 30,000 is now sold for 50,000.

In an interview, two livestock sellers, Mr Israel Atoyebi and Mr Damilola Ojo attributed the increase to the high cost of chicken feed and other livestock drugs.

A pepper seller, Mrs Dasola Lambe explained that the price of perishable items is on the average due to the season and an onion seller Mrs Nafisat Adesokan said a big bag of onions is sold between 120,000 to 150,000 attributed the high cost to transportation and lament low patronage.

A civil Servant Mr Adewumi Adebisi and a housewife. Mrs Ajibola who expressed worries over the high costs of food commodities said they could not purchase items as they wished for Christmas as they would celebrate moderately.

They called on the government to create a policy that would ensure price control of commodities to reduce hardship for the masses.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group 

Economy

Ogun Issues 3-Day Ultimatum to Traders over Street Markets

By Web News 454

The Ogun State government has issued a three-day ultimatum to traders who contravene the state Environmental Law by occupying unauthorised spots, to vacate such places or face the consequence of being fined or having their goods confiscated.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Rasak Ojetola, said this in a statement in Abeokuta, on Saturday, adding that the move-away order became necessary due to the dangers the traders got exposed to.

Ojetola, also argued that there were enough spaces in the government-approved markets to accommodate the traders, noting that some activities by traders have led to the blockage of drainage channels.

He said, “The state government cannot fold its hands and watch this small section of traders illegally converting half of the motorable roads, walkways and laybacks in different parts of the states to markets on the excuse of quick sales.

“Aside from exposing themselves to avoidable vehicular mishaps, their activities also constitute an environmental nuisance to the aesthetic beauty of the state through the shanties they construct and place on these spaces.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Health

Nollywood Actor Odunlade Adekola takes Ogun Health Insurance Campaign to Markets

By Web News 1486 2

In a bid to promote the health insurance scheme among residents irrespective of occupation, the Ogun State Health Insurance Ambassador, Mr Odunlade Adekola, has taken the campaign to major markets in the state capital.

 The ace Nollywood actor, Adekola, in the company of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Tayo Lawal, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Kayode Oladehinde, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Afolabi Dosumu and his counterpart in the Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, among others went on a road show within the Abeokuta metropolis to sensitize people about the scheme. 

The train which touched down at Kuto Market, Sapon, Omida, Itoku, Lafenwa and Oke-Ilewo, had the commuters, passersby, and market women expressing their joy on sighting the Nigerian actor who freely danced and took ” selfies” with many of them.

Mr Adekola, who encouraged the people to embrace the scheme, described the present administration’s investment in the health sector as a reference point.

He explained that the monthly payment of the sum of one thousand per head and four thousand for a family of six would help fast-track government efforts towards achieving universal health coverage.

Speaking with newsmen, the Executive Secretary, Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Dosumu, said that the road show would be replicated in all the four zones of the state, noting that Yewa, Ijebu and Remo should expect Odunlade Adekola in their locations as well.

Dr Dosumu explained that the purpose of the roadshow was to create awareness that would sink into people’s minds.

Olusegun Folarin

Subscribe to our Telegram channel

Economy

Shoppers Flood Akure Markets Ahead Of Christmas Celebrations

By Web News 1292

Markets in Akure, the Ondo State capital have begun to experience increased patronage as residents troop out to shop for this year’s Christmas celebrations.

Staff reporter, Tosin Aderibigbe who visited some markets observed that while some commodities have increased in price, others either remain as they were prior to this period or have reduced a bit.

Tosin Aderibigbe

Health

COVID-19 Protocols: Osun Govt. Threatens Top Shut Non-Compliant Markets

By Web News 1288

Osun State Government has threatened to shut down any market that refuses to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines.

Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode gave the warning in Osogbo after the virtual state executive council meeting.

She explained that government was deeply concerned that market women
and men have largely been non-compliant to COVID-19 protocols.

Mrs Egbemode said with the increased efforts of the enforcement team, the state government had noted a significant improvement in the level of compliance with the safety guidelines among individuals.

The commissioner explained that the state government had therefore
ordered enforcement to be scaled up in the various markets across the state and where flagrant disregard for safety protocols was observed, such markets should be shut.

Gold FM