In a bid to make the price of foodstuffs affordable for the people of the state, the Ogun State government has rolled out plans to commence the operations of its bulk purchase under the supervision of the gateway trading company
It therefore approved the immediate resucitation of the offices of the trading company in four zones namely Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yewaland
Governor dapo Abiodun let out this on Wednesday during a meeting with market leaders led by the state Iyaloja General, Mrs Yemisi Abass at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta
Governor Abiodun explained that the rationale behind the reintroduction of the bulk purchase scheme is to address the food inflation currently affecting the state and the nation at large adding that a price control mechanism would also be introduced by the state government.
Mr Governor who frowned at the unruly behaviour of some agents at the various markets across the state directed the immediate suspension of all forms of illegal levies and taxes except the development and environmental levies which according to him is meant for the development of markets in the state.
Governor Abiodun informed that a market enforcement taskforce with a central body at the state capital would be set up in all the twenty local governments area of the state saying all forms of intimidation by people who add no value to markets operations across the state would be stamped out
He further warned that anyone caught collecting illegal fees in markets across the state will face the full wrath of the law, stating that he will also ensure that all exorbitant and unbearable sales of shops and stall rents imposed on market men and women are stopped.
The governor who acknowledged the importance of farmers in the.provision of adequate foostuffs promised that his administration would be providing support in form of grants and loans to different farmer’s associations in the state, assuring that his administration would also make available farm tools for their use.
The first citizen of the gateway state however directed the Ministry of Environment, the State Waste Management Agency, and the Ministry of Women Affairs to work together in ensuring the effective management of waste in markets across the state,
In a remark, Chief Yemisi Abass commended governor Abiodun for given the market men and women the opportunity to be part of the ongoing consultation to deliberate on how to make life more bearable for the people of the state, expressing optimism that all the resolutions reached at the meeting would serve as an avenue to facilitate trade across the state
