Benin City, the capital of Edo State, is facing a growing crisis as
market women raised their concerns over the relentless surge in food prices, tasking Governor Monday Okpebholo to take decisive action to address same.
A visit to the ever-busy Oba Market in Benin City, reveals how traders expressed their frustrations and shared stories of hardship caused by the escalating costs of essential goods.
Blessing Eboigbe, one of the traders, highlighted the sharp rise in
prices despite efforts by the state government to regulate the market.
“A cup of melon that used to sell for ₦5,000 is now ₦8,000.
Everything has increased in price,” she lamented. “We want the governor to intervene.”
Governor Okpebholo had earlier deployed a Taskforce to monitor pricing and address irregularities in the marketplaces.
However, traders claim that these measures have done little to ease their burden, with many
struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
Another pressing concern raised by the market women is the issue of
illegal levies.
They accused non-state agents of issuing unauthorised
tickets, which have forced traders to inflate the prices of their
commodities to cover the added costs.
In a bold plea, the traders called for the abolition of the market
unions in Benin City, arguing that such a move would significantly
reduce food prices and provide relief to both sellers and consumers.
The situation has placed immense pressure on families in the region, as many struggle to afford basic foodstuffs.
Stakeholders are urging the state government to intensify efforts to stabilise prices, curb illegal
levies, and restore order in the markets.
