The Chairman Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage l (Rtd), Emir of Lafia has joined in calling on leaders in the country on the need to urgently bring to an end the rising cost of food items among other economic challenges the country is battling with.
The paramount ruler’s appeal is coming at the wake resurging increased of protests in parts of the country by Nigerians and threats to down tools by labour unions if the situation is left unattended to.
In the past few days some states across the country like Lagos, the nation’s commercial hub, Kano, Niger among others witnessed series of demonstrations by citizenry calling for an end to what they identified as worsening economic situation in the country.
Justice Bage said government as a key player has a role of maintaining stability of the economy through proactive mechanisms in price control and effective coordination of food supply and preventing hoarding for excessive pricing by middle men.
The Emir was speaking when he hosted the leadership of the Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association at his palace in Lafia today Monday, February 12
The monarch said government had planned to distribute food items across states of the nation to ameliorate the soaring prices of food items being experienced by the poor and the most vulnerable in the society, adding that more deliberate and sustainable measures should be taken to stabilise the country’s economy so that the poor could to put food would afford the poor put on their tables daily.
He added that there is an urgent need for swift and decisive action to mitigate the impact of the cost of living and restore hope of the country’s citizens.
He explained that reversing the fuel subsidy removal policy of the Tinubu-led administration is not an effective solution but suggested sincere economic policy that brings a total halt to the current crisis, urging traders in the country to support the plan by government to contain the challenge of growing hyper inflation in the country currently.
President, Nasarawa State Traders and Marketers Association, Musa Turaki-Gamji called for revaluation of the monetary policy in the country, noting that dollarisation, rising inflation, customs duty and price control are some areas for authorities to pay attention to if the difficult situation must be addressed.
Turaki-Gamji said the union is touring the senatorial districts of the state to sensitize traders on the need to support government’s plans to address the plight of the people, adding that the state is not exceptional to the crisis.
He however sought for the support of the traditional institution and market forces towards easing the situation in the state.
He explained that it is in the realization of this that the association tasked itself to immediately take concrete actions that are aimed at alleviating the current economic crisis.
Gamji added that Nasarawa State is blessed large quantity of farm produce but that marketers from other states in the country like Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara took advantage of the boom to buy the excess farm produce for hoarding in other to maximize profits, leaving the people wallowing in hunger and excruciating pain and suffering.
On their parts, the Sarkin Kasuwan Lafia, Chairman Rice Millers Association, Chairman Grains Marketers Association said until appropriate action is taken on erring marketers and corrective measures necessary to fix the economy, the economy would remain battered considering the growing insecurity and activities of shylock middle men who hoard the food items.
During a sensitization meeting with shop vendors at the New Lafia Modern Market, the Lafia Neighbourhood Market and the Lafia Ultra Modern Market, Musa Turaki-Gamji advised them to also consider the plight of the poor and needy by not hiking their prices to earn huge profits.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, Chairman of the Special Taskforce on Market Price Sensitization, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the taskforce would go round the local government areas of the state in the week to stem the tide of the growing economic hardship in the country, maintaining that it is a proactive approach taken by the union to avoid the experiences of residents of other states who had to engage in protests.