The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, has cancelled various traders’ associations in markets in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, intending to remove their undue control of prices and ensure farmers have direct access to traders.

Oba Adejugbe, who also ordered traders in the markets not to sell their foodstuff beyond stipulated prices, said the steps were necessary to regulate the high prices of foodstuff in the state capital.

The monarch, leading the Ewi-in-Council, gave the directive in Ado Ekiti on Monday during a meeting with the leadership and some members of the market women association, warned of sanctions for anybody who flouted the directives.

The Ewi-in-Council, which noted with dismay the reports from members of the public on the heartless attitudes of most of the traders leading to high food prices, said the directives were to correct the trend.

The Council, at the meeting, directed that henceforth “vegetables should not be sold more than N50; pepper, pepper N100; garri N700; while kilogramme of meat should be reduced to N4,500.”

Oba Adejugbe said, “Reports have it that traders, under the aegis of the associations, hide under middlemen to inflate the prices of goods such as tomatoes, pepper, vegetable, palm oil, locust beans, meat, garri, among others by dictating prices to the farmers that brought them to the markets for sale.

“We have taken these steps to make life bearable for residents of the town. I hereby direct the leadership of traders in the market to effect the directives. Chiefs will continue to monitor marketplaces to ensure strict implementation and sanction defaulters.

The Council, at the meeting, directed that henceforth “vegetables should not be sold more than N50; pepper, pepper N100; garri N700; while kilogramme of meat should be reduced to N4,500.”

budaatum:


Can someone please kindly inform kabiyesi that while its good that he has banned middle men who inflate prices, he has not exactly ordered that fertiliser be sold at uninflated prices, nor has he placed any control on land prices and labour and transport costs that contribute to the price of food in the market. And that if the prices he has ordered mean I sell at a loss, there are other markets where i can take my food to sell at a profit.

dimgbajwe:
What about laws of demand and supply ? Who can explain how this will be effective

MasterJayJay:
The Oba should order that petrol should not be sold above 200 naira per liter.

Believeintruth:
At least the Oba has the interests of his subjects at heart and is taking measures, no matter how small they may be.

Babalegba:

Yes transport and labor costs has increased but production and transportation is being done in bulk so economy of scale should kick in as the cost is spread over multiple units of the products.
People are just too greedy.

budaatum:


Can someone please kindly inform kabiyesi that while its good that he has banned middle men who inflate prices, he has not exactly ordered that fertiliser be sold at uninflated prices, nor has he placed any control on land prices and labour and transport costs that contribute to the price of food in the market. And that if the prices he has ordered mean I sell at a loss, there are other markets where i can take my food to sell at a profit.

Babalegba:

Fact of the matter is that traders are increasing prices arbitrarily and causing relentless inflation due to ignorance. Yes transport and labor costs has increased but production and transportation is being done in bulk so economy of scale should kick in as the cost is spread over multiple units of the products.
People are just too greedy.