Women Leader Raids Ekiti Markets To Reduce Foodstuff Price

Vanguard reports that Chief Omowaye Oso who is the president of the Market Women’s Association led a task force on a raid on Oja Oba and the Bisi Egbeyemi markets on Tuesday, November 29. Oso said she had the backing of the state government and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe due to the fact that prices of food in these markets had become unreasonably high.


The women leader forced down the price of some goods and even sold them at cheaper rates herself. A measure of garri, which used to sell for N200 was reduced to N100. A 20-liter container of palm oil which was sold at N22,000 was reduced to N15,000. A measure of local rice which was sold for N500 was reduced to N400. Also, small measure of Okro and locust beans was reduced to N20 from N50.

She said: “Both the Ewi of Ado Ekiti and the state government are concerned about the exorbitant prices of goods and services in the town. “The cost of goods, especially foodstuff, is too high in Ado Ekiti, whereas, as the state capital, prices of goods and services should be the cheapest here. “The market men and women should have mercy on the poor because things are too expensive here, unlike other towns and villages in Ekiti State. “It is very unfortunate that market women in other communities don’t want to sell at their places anymore; they now bring their wares to Ado, believing they will sell at twice the price of what they sell in their communities. “As the Iyaloja, one of my responsibilities is to ensure price control of goods and today’s exercise shall be a continuous one and shall be repeated in all markets in Ado. “It is unfortunate that 20 liters of palm oil which sells at N14,000 in Ikole is being sold at N22,000 in Ado, but we have sold it at N15,000.

“Ado is now developing a bad reputation for high prices of goods and services, but we will not allow this to continue; the Kabiyesi has said he does not want hardship for the people of Ado. “We will continue to carry out our raids until our market women comply and anyone who cannot comply, must look elsewhere to sell her wares. “If you can’t sell your palm oil at lower prices, don’t bring it down to Ado again.” The move was applauded by buyers in the market who described it as a welcomed development for poor people.

Naij.com