The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, at the weekend appealed to foodstuffs sellers in Akure and its metropolis against arbitrary hike in price of foodstuff and called for the immediate reduction of prices of food commodities in the capital city.
The monarch who made this appeal in Akure, Ondo State capital, during a meeting with the leadership of various groups of foodstuff sellers within the town, frowned over the hike in the prices of foodstuffs in Akure compared with other neighbouring states.
Oba Aladelusi said the call for the reduction in the prices of foodstuffs became imperative after a recent market survey conducted by the palace across the major towns and cities in the Southwest states where it was discovered that the prices obtained in these communities were at variance with what is obtained in Akure.
According to the traditional ruler of Akure kingdom, the recent market survey indicated that prices of foodstuffs like rice, palm oil, groundnut oil, garri among others cannot be compare with price of foodstuff in Osogbo, Ibadan, Ogbomosho, Ile-Ife, Ilesha, Ado-Ekiti, and Lagos.
The monarch said “It is so sad that the prices of commodities have been unnecessarily hiked in Akure with no justifiable reason. This is unfair and totally unacceptable
“The situation is becoming more unbearable for our people and we must not add to the plight of our people, considering the present economic hardship in the country.
“The palace cannot fold its hands and watch our people to continue to suffer and die of hunger due to unnecessary and needless hike in prices of basic needs
“It was glaring that the situation in Akure was becoming unbearable for most families and things may go worse if not quickly checked. I wonder why a bag of rice will be sold for between N21,000 and N23,000, 20 litres of palm oil now sells for between N20,000 and N21,500, a rubber of garri now sells for N200, when other communities sell same for N16,000, N10,000 and N100 respectively”
The monarch, however, said, “We are watching the market situation in other towns and I will ensure a downward review of the price as situation may demand to be at par with other neighboring towns,”
Responding, the leadership of the foodstuffs assured the monarch that appropriate steps would be taken to reverse the prices of all foodstuffs in the market within the next one week to make life comfortable for the people of the community
The palace however set up a task force to monitor the situation and ensure strict compliance with the agreement made with the sellers while the monarch prayed for the quick recovery of the nation’s economy.
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