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By Lukman Olabiyi
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has decried skyrocketing prices of products and commodities in the country. He called on government at all levels to declare a state of emergency on it.
Speaking during the 2021 edition of Ogun Festival in Ikorodu, Lagos, Gani said the rising cost of essential products and commodities, like foodstuffs, clothes and other perishable had become unbearable for the masses.
He said due to the current situation, many Nigerians could no longer afford three square meals daily.
His words: “Any time the festive season approaches, the usual tradition in Nigeria is to jerk up prices of commodities, especially, foodstuffs and other perishable items. This is not too good for us a nation.
“In the developed world, there is price control mechanism, and prices of every commodity remain as they are, even during festive seasons. Nothing change.”
He noted that Nigerians are always at the mercy of greedy sellers, noting, “there is need for caution. We can borrow the idea of global price control mechanism as it is done in the developed countries. We need to review the present economic situation and determine the rate at which the prices of every product increase.
“Prices of items like foodstuffs, rice, beans, Semovita, garri, chickens, and gifts soar high beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians. It becomes very difficult and hard to live in Nigeria. At this festive season, government at various levels must be sensitive to address the urgent needs of the people.”
Speaking on the Ogun festival, Gani said that Ogun is indispensable to mankind and great countries like China, Singapore, Japan and Germany celebrate it in their own way. “However, religious fanatics and bigots have hampered our growth as a race. It is time to wake up from our slumber, so that we can restore our hope in cultural transformation.
“Recently, the Lagos State government celebrated the Food Festival. It is good that the state government is coming up with ideas that can really enhance the economic prosperity of the state. Other states in the South-West can look inward and work on something similar. Festivals, whether cultural, traditional, sports, arts, educational movies or music remain potent tools to interact, integrate and share valuable ideas that can be used to create jobs and wealth,” he said.
