*Governor (Prince) Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, in Nigeria, assures the citizens and residents of the state that the Gateway Trading Company will assist in bringing food items to teeming consumers at affordable prices that will be significantly below what they can obtain in the market themselves

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

As part of veritable measures to curb the current high prices of food items and other commodities, the Ogun State Government has moved to introduce a price control mechanism and bulk purchases for food items in the 鈥楪ateway State鈥�.

Governor (Prince) Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State disclosed this development during a meeting with market leaders, led by Chief (Mrs.) Yemisi Abass, the Iyaloja General, at the Governor鈥檚 Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The governor also affirmed that his administration henceforth, would suspend all forms of market levies.

It was learnt Governor Abiodun as well noted that only development and environmental levies would be allowed, as these are meant for the development of markets in the state.

Subsequently, as part of measures to control the increasing prices of food items in the markets, the Ogun State Government said it would soon commence the operation of its Bulk Purchasing Company.

As a prelude to this move, the government has now rebranded its Bulk Purchasing Company as Gateway Trading Company in order to ensure that the costs of food items become more affordable for consumers.

The Gateway Trading Company, in the first instance, would begin operations in the four zones of the state, according to Abiodun.

He reportedly stated: 鈥淲e鈥檝e also resolved that we will begin the implementation of Bulk Purchase and Selling in the state.

鈥淭o that extent, the state government has rebranded our Bulk Purchase Company. It is now called Gateway Trading Board.鈥�

He further asserted: 鈥淕ateway Trading will now assist in bringing food items to our teeming public at prices that will be significantly below what they can obtain when they go to the market themselves.

鈥淪o, we are going to aggressively implement our Gateway Trading objectives. They will first start in the four zones; they will buy in bulk and resell at prices that will be more affordable to our people.鈥�

The governor likewise announced the ban on all forms of levies in the markets across the state in South-West Nigeria.

On the responsibility of market enforcement taskforce

Governor Abiodun revealed that a market enforcement taskforce with a central body in the state would be mirrored in all twenty Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The state government equally noted that all forms of coercion and intimidation by people who add no value to markets across the state would be eradicated in this regard.

He, therefore, warned that anyone caught collecting illegal fees in markets across the state would face the full wrath of the law.

Abiodun affirmed that the Ogun State Government would ensure that all exorbitant and unbearable shop and stall rents imposed on market men and women are stopped.

Ogun bans all illegal taxes, states levies payable across markets

鈥淎 few things have been identified by way of illegal taxes that are being imposed right there in the market; loading taxes, discharge taxes, offloading taxes, and illegal levies in the name of different people.

鈥淔rom now on, we are banning such illegal levies in any market in Ogun State.

鈥淭he only levies that will be allowed are what they call the Development Levy and the Environmental Levy,鈥� stated he.

Abiodun also assured consumers: 鈥淭hose are levies that are associated with the upkeep of the market, and even those will have to be agreed upon and made public.

鈥淲e also identified that there are people who add no value to food items coming from the farm to markets.

鈥淭hey either, by coercion or intimidation, accost farmers and force them to sell at inflated prices.

鈥淲e have resolved here that we are going to have a market enforcement task force; there will be a central body here in the state.鈥�

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