“Ounje Eko”: Lawmaker lauds LASG

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, has lauded the state government for the food market initiative aimed at reducing the burden of high food prices in the state.

Yishawu gave the commendation on Sunday in Lagos, as the “Ounje Eko” food market continued after its inauguration on March 17 across the Local Government and Council Development Areas in the state.

The lawmaker, who represents Eti-Osa 02 Constituency, Lagos, monitored the exercise and commended the government on the initiative.

“We must appreciate the state government under leadership of Mr Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” he said.

Yishawu noted the intervention on the rail, discount on transport and feeding of people via canteens.

“This is a food market; we did this during COVID, remember; so, they brought the market to the community to ensure that food is available to residents at a discounted price.

“So, whatever they are buying from this market, the state government is discounting by 25 per cent, which is a very laudable initiative.

“People have been coming as early as six o’ clock just to take advantage of it,” he said.

He disclosed that apart from the 25 per cent discount offered by the government, he was also offering N1,000 food stamp to his constituents.

According to him, each constituent will get a voucher that is valid for the day.

Yishawu said, “So, that will be deducted from what they have to pay; it is just our own way of contributing to providing food for constituents within this particular market, which is the one that falls within my constituency.”

Some of the buyers at the market expressed gratitude to the government for the initiative to reduce food prices and alleviate the sufferings of residents.

One of them, who is a lawyer, Mr Ene Chukwu, described the initiative as good and commended the government for looking out for the people in the present challenging times.

“It is a good initiative and it shows that the governor is thinking for the people; one of the basic things people need is food and he has made sure he sourced quality food items at discounted price.

“I also, commend the lawmaker, Yishawu, for his intervention programmes, including medicals, free JAMB and WAEC forms for constituents.

“I have benefited from some of them, and I must say, we need such leaders in government,” Chukwu said.

Another buyer, Mrs Oluwafeyitimi Tolulope, commended the organisers for the smooth running of the market.

Tolulope said, “In spite of the huge turn out and long queues, people are being attended to accordingly.

“It is a laudable initiative and I do hope more of these kinds of initiatives are rolled out to alleviate the sufferings of the people.”

It was reported that the state government had inaugurated ‘Ounje Eko’ food markets, offering discounted prices on essential food items across the State, beginning from Sunday, March 17, 2024.

The initiative was aimed at alleviating the economic burden on residents amid rising food prices.

Under the initiative, staple food items including rice, beans, gari, bread, eggs, tomatoes, and pepper will be available at 25 per cent discounted prices.

The food markets will operate across 27 locations in Ikeja, six in Lagos Island, nine in Ikorodu, five in Epe, and 10 in Badagry divisions of the state.