By RAJI RASAK

Traditional chiefs in Badagry on Saturday stormed Agbalata Market to enforce a directive by the Badagry to force down prices of foodstuffs and goods.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Traditional Ruler of Badagry, Aholu Menu Toyi 1, on Aug. 28, dissolved market committees dictating the prices of foodstuffs and goods in Agbalata International Market, Badagry.

The Akran made the announcement at a meeting with Agbalata market men and women at his palace in Badagry.

The Akran, who was represented by Chief Michael Onu-Osekan, the Jengen of Badagry, said no committee should set the price of foodstuffs and goods brought to the market by sellers any longer.

Onu-Osekan sent town criers to assemble the traders at four different venues in the local government to address them.

He said the chiefs had come on instructions of the Akran in reference to the meeting he held at his palace.

“We have come to disseminate information round the market and see if the instructions issued to marketers are being followed.

“We heard that some marketers are not willing to pay waste, security and other fees, due to the instructions from the palace.

“The message is that they should not make things harder for our fellow people of the community, they should not over charge people with the aim of gaining too much,” he said.

Similarly, Chief Anthony Oloyede, the Efiyentan of Badagry Kingdom, said they were in the market to ensure marketers regulate the price of foodstuffs according to the Akran’s directives.

Oloyede said: “Shortly after the directives on dissolution of market committees and reduction of prices of foodstuffs, we heard that some traders are adamant and even refused to pay their normal market levies.

“The levies include security and waste fees which they used to pay monthly to ensure that the market is cleaned.

“This is part of what brought us here, Akran urges them to pay their monthly dues and have human feeling while selling their goods,” he said.

Also, Mr Tunde Hundeyin, representing the Coconut Sellers Association of Agbalata Market, commended the traditional chiefs for coming to address the marketers on high cost of foodstuffs.

Hundeyin, however, urged the traditional chiefs to appeal to government to reduce the pump prices of petrol and diesel.

He said these were a major cause of hike in prices of foodstuff.

Chief Solomon Alabi, the Otun Baba Oja of Agbalata Market, promised that all traders in the market would comply with the directives of the traditional ruler.

Alabi thanked the chiefs for coming to the market to brief the marketers on Akran’s directives. (NAN)

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