With the aim of making food more affordable for citizens, the Ogun State government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has embarked on a sensitisation to markets in the state, in order to promote fair and realistic pricing strategies and achieve an equitable market environment.
Commissioner in the ministry, Adijat Adeleye, who, on Wednesday, led the team to markets in Ogun Central and West senatorial districts, including Siun and Kuto, said the present administration is passionate about the welfare and well-being of citizens.
Adeleye noted that the visit is to facilitate a beneficial understanding among stakeholders, prevent exploitation of consumers, and reduce hardship on low-income households.
The commissioner maintained that the government has been providing dividends of democracy through various intervention programmes, such as Oko’Owo Dapo, through which soft loans and grants were given to empower women and boost their businesses.
“Our goal is to ensure that markets operate fairly and equitably, benefiting both traders and consumers, ” she said.
She added: “We believe this visit marks the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between the government and market stakeholders.”
Adeleye appealed to traders to cooperate with the government to achieve a positive outcome, promote economic development, protect consumer interests, and encourage healthy competition.
Responding ,Iyaloja, Egba market, Mrs Kemi Oloyede, commended the federal and state governments for initiating policies and programmes to support agriculture and transportation, pledging continuous efforts to ensure market women adopt fair pricing which will alleviate the suffering of the masses.
Some market women also lent their voices and promised to adjust their pricing.