Ogun: Gov Abiodun introduces price control measures to combat rising food prices

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has announced plans to introduce a price control mechanism in a bid to address the rising costs of food items.

During a meeting with market leaders, led by Iyaloja General, Mrs. Yemisi Abass, at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, the governor emphasized the need to make food more affordable for the people.

Abiodun also declared the suspension of all market levies, except for development and environmental levies, which are intended for market improvements.

Additionally, the state government is set to commence operations of its Bulk Purchasing Company, now rebranded as Gateway Trading Company, to ensure affordable food prices in the state.

His words: “We’ve also resolved that we will begin the implementation of Bulk Purchase and Selling in the state. To that extent, the state government has rebranded our Bulk Purchase Company.

It is now called Gateway Trading Board.

“Gateway Trading will now assist in bringing food items to our teeming public at prices that will be significantly below what they can obtain when they go to the market themselves.

“So, we are going to aggressively implement our Gateway Trading objectives. They will first start in the four zones; they will buy in bulk and resell at prices that will be more affordable to our people.”

Governor Abiodun also announced the ban on all forms of levies in the markets in the state.

He said: “A few things have been identified by way of illegal taxes that are being imposed right there in the market; loading taxes, discharge taxes, offloading taxes, and illegal levies in the name of different people. From now on, we are banning such illegal levies in any market in Ogun State.

“The only levies that will be allowed are what they call the Development Levy and the Environmental Levy. Those are levies that are associated with the upkeep of the market, and even those will have to be agreed upon and made public.”

“We also identified that there are people who add no value to food items coming from the farm to markets. They either, by coercion or intimidation, accost farmers and force them to sell at inflated prices.”

In her remarks, Mrs Abass commended Governor Abiodun for deeming it fit to call market leaders together to deliberate on how to make life more bearable for the people of the state.