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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
With food prices reaching stratospheric heights, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Inspire Lagos Food Market, in collaboration with Surulere Local Government Area, has risen to alleviate hunger and support vulnerable communities within Surelere.
The NGO provided relief to those struggling to access affordable nutrition by offering a 50 per cent discount on various food items for residents of Surulere.
Jubilant residents hailed the initiative as the prices of rice, eggs, beans, chicken, garri, yam, vegetable oil and palm oil, among others, were significantly reduced, making them more accessible to local households facing financial strain due to the recent hikes in prices.
The initiative took place at the Surulere Local Government Secretariat, attracting numerous residents eager to take advantage of the discounted rates.
According to the organisers, the goal of the event was not just to alleviate immediate hunger but also to raise awareness about food security issues and stimulate discussions on sustainable solutions to the persistent problem of food inflation that has plagued the community.
Speaking at the event, the Convener of Inspire Lagos Food Market, Abiola Adebajo, emphasised the importance of collective efforts to combat food insecurity and urged other organisations and local businesses to join in on similar initiatives. “By coming together as a community, we can provide relief to our most vulnerable citizens and foster a culture of sharing and support,” the representative stated.
Residents expressed their gratitude for the initiative, highlighting how the rising cost of living has made it challenging for families to afford basic food items.
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“This discount is a breath of fresh air for many of us. We can finally buy the staples we need without breaking the bank,” said Mrs Gladys James, a mother shopping at the market.
The event also featured educational sessions on budgeting, nutrition and food preservation techniques, helping attendees make the most of the resources available to them. With food prices expected to remain volatile in the coming months, the Inspire Lagos Food Market, in partnership with Surulere Local Government, plans to continue hosting similar events aimed at ensuring food stability and security in the state.
Adebajo said people are hungry and the constant rise of food prices is affecting the masses, especially low income earners.
Adebajo noted that rising food costs has become a significant source of concern for the government as many Nigerians are having to alter or sacrifice as rising food costs nip at their wallets.
He added that, “this is a time people want to eat chicken and they have chicken at half price; this is the time people must eat rice and they are having a lot of rice for half the usual price and I mean it’s a whole lot of relief for them, especially at this season. What we are doing is bringing a lot of relief to all our surroundings, that is the idea to create impact on food security.”
On his part, the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Bamidele Suleiman Yusuf, expressed delight at the warm reception of the food hub by the residents.
Yusuf said the local government collaborated with the Inspire Lagos Food Market “so we can sell food items at a subsidised rate of 50 per cent to the residents of Surulere LGA. You can see the whole place is well managed. You can see the people are happy. We are all aware of the prices of commodities so having this food hub is to ease the pressure.”
Yusuf said, “we have a strategy in place to prevent anyone from buying more than expected or any sad occurrence. We adopted a paper currency where everyone is expected to buy just N15,000 worth of goods. As they are buying we are collecting their data, so you can’t exceed the provision made by the organisers. It has been peaceful and orderly.”
