Emergency food market has achieved its goals ― Lagos govt

Lagos State government, on Wednesday, said its Makeshift Neighbourhood Food Market had achieved the objective of enabling residents to access farm produce without much trouble as the state continues to observe the lockdown directive in the fight against the spread to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said this during an inspection tour of the Ramadan edition of the Makeshift Neighbourhood Markets at Local Government Primary School, Idimu and Ejigbo Nursery and Primary School, Orilowo, Ejigbo in Lagos, in the company of  Hon Kehinde Joseph, Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Lagos State House of Assembly.

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According to him, the state government is satisfied with the success rate of the 27 COVID-19 Makeshift Markets originally created to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Lagos residents, saying with the establishment, lot of residents had been provided with the opportunity to access food produce.

He said the products include vegetables and perishable goods especially those needed for the Ramadan fast.

“This is Orilowo Ejigbo Nursery and Primary School in Ejigbo LCDA under the Oshodi Isolo Local Government. This is the fourth and Ramadan edition of the Lagos emergency makeshift markets or neighbourhood markets, so to say.

“So far, we are happy with the success rate. We are happy that the makeshift markets have given the opportunity to a lot of Lagosians to be able to access markets without much trouble,” he said.

Speaking further, Lawal said the price of products at the markets were very competitive and cheaper than what obtained in the open markets which had contributed greatly to the level of patronage recorded, adding that the makeshift markets were created to reduce the economic burden that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered and provide access to market as they observed the total lockdown in the state.

“The markets were satisfactorily serving that purpose such that the open markets that were supposed to be the major point of call for people are now recording lower patronage especially in line with the social distancing guidelines of the government of Governor Babajide  Sanwo-Olu,” the commissioner said.

Lawal explained that though the economy of Lagos was important, the protection of lives was more important, adding that the government would continue to do all within its power to ensure that its citizens were safe.

The commissioner pointed out that the public health order would continually be at the front burner as a matter of urgency hence it was important that people were aware of the essence of social distancing so that the whole of the country understand the seriousness of the pandemic.

 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE