Ibeju Lekki Rolls Out Subsidized Community Market To Cushion Food Price Hike

Eko Hot Blog reports that in a bid to alleviate the impact of escalating food prices on families, the Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area has rolled out a subsidized community market, offering essential food items at discounted rates.

The initiative, tagged the “Ibeju Lekki Government Jumbo Subsidy Community Market,” is part of a concerted effort by the government to address the economic challenges faced by citizens.

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During an interview at the market’s second edition, Ibeju Lekki Local Government Chairman Abdulahi Sesan Olowa shed light on the rationale behind the program.

“We are offering food items at subsidized rates,” he stated.

“For example, the people that pay three thousand naira are going home with food items worth five thousand naira and more.”

The market offers a wide range of staple foods, including garri, rice, fish, meat, eggs, and even free pepper, as part of the package.

“The pepper is going for free. When you buy all of this, we will give you pepper for free as part of our package,” Olowa explained.

Recognizing the gravity of the economic situation and its impact on families, the chairman emphasized the government’s commitment to mitigating the hardship.

“We understand the situation of the country, and prices of food items are escalating, and families are going through challenges to provide for their families,” he said.

“This time around, the government at all levels, both federal and state and local government, has put our heads together to ensure that we reduce the impact of this hardship.”

The initiative is funded by government allocations, as Olowa clarified, “We got the resources from the government.

We get the money from allocations from the government. So as part of our allocation, the government is funded by citizens, and that’s the source of this giveback the citizen is enjoying.”

While the program is a temporary measure, designed to run for about six months, Olowa expressed optimism in the president’s efforts to address the economic crisis.

“We know that the President is presently working out the solution to this economic crisis,” he said.

“We just have to be patient with him, as a solution will surface soonest. While we await the solution, we will continue to do this for some duration.”

The chairman also extended an invitation to the private sector and individuals to support the government’s efforts.

“We call on the private sector and private friends to support the government in this period. We, the Ibeju Lekki Local Government, have shown interest in providing for the needs of the people. For all corporate citizens who are interested in supporting us, our doors are wide open, and we are looking forward to that partnership.”

The initiative has been well-received by beneficiaries, with Tope Alebi Osu expressing gratitude,

“I want to thank the local government for this privilege to put food on my table.” Salami Gbenga echoed similar sentiments, saying, “God bless the chairman for this effort, and continue to uplift him in all he does.”

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Olowa, however, remained humble in the face of praise, stating, “We never planned for all of this, it came, and we are not to run from challenges; we are to face them. So if people are seeing me perform my duty and giving me kudos, then that’s fine.”

The Ibeju Lekki Government Jumbo Subsidy Community Market stands as a testament to the local government’s commitment to alleviating the burden of rising food costs on its citizens, fostering a sense of unity and support during these challenging times.

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