For months, Nigerians have been lamenting continuous increase in the prices of goods and services.
In Sapele, the timber town in Delta state, prices of goods including services have increased drastically with residents and traders pointing accusing fingers at the Sapele Council Chairman, Hon Eugene Inoaghan for not doing enough to check the rising cost of food items and services
The residents are also accusing the several unions in charge of these foodstuffs and services of not only making life difficult for Sapele people but the Chairman’s continuous blind eye to the activities of these associations has brought untold pain to the town.
When news crew visited the Sapele market, traders lamented that prices of goods increased daily than the usual while the Council Chairman seemed to be ignoring the cries and complaints of the residents even when complains have continuously reached him over the associations role in making life unbearable for residents.
A trader, Mrs Akpobome Mukoro, who deal on yams in the market, said: we know cost of foodstuffs are on the rise, but in Sapele, it is more higher than other places, for instance, the price of a yam depends on the size, an average tuber of yam now cost one thousand, two hundred naira in Sapele and I can assure you in other places like Warri or Benin, that same yam will go for one thousand naira” insisting that the reason why the cost of foodstuffs is high is because of these associations who have become Lord of their own.
“We are not saying that the cost of things are not high in other places. What we are experiencing is a case of greed, and nobody is checkmating these union, and let the government speak and act against these greedy ones or they will kill us”
Further investigation also reveal that most of these foodstuffs like garri, rice, beans, and even spices like pepper, tomatoes etc now have union who determine the prices as against the real price of the commodity in the market.
On services in Warri, a tipper of sand is supplied at the cost of twenty two thousand naira, while neighboring towns like Oghara, Mosogar and Jesse, it goes for twenty two thousand naira as against Sapele, that goes for twenty five thousand naira and could sometimes rise to thirty thousand depending on the distance.
A housewife, Mrs Ajoke Mary who has experienced the wrath of the rice association narrated how she was embarrassed months ago when she wanted to indulge in rice sales “my husband secured a shop along New road to sell rice, I had hardly started when they came demanding I must join the union or I won’t sell rice in Sapele town, when I refused they brought the police and arrested me and it was in the police station that I was advised to be a member of the union”
When Journalists made enquires how much was paid to be part of the body, she said “one hundred thousand naira, four cartons of beer, four cartons of maltina and Kolanut” adding that there is practically nothing being sold there that does not have an association.
So why do they need a union to sell in Sapele? A member of the association representing dry fish sellers, who begged not to be mentioned told Journalists that the union was set up to control prices of the commodity so as not to cheapen the sale of fish in the locality “the union help regulate the sales and sometimes the buying so that we can trade and make gains” she said.
Mrs Wekobiruo Oghenegweke of the fresh fish sellers association on her part said that their union help to stabilize the sales of fish and unnecessary increment or selling of fish below cost price. When Journalists asked why a business man would sell his or her commodity to make loss and what is another party’s concern, she simply said in local parlance “no be all of us get sense and if we no get union dem go spoil market for us”
So why does the union determine price in Sapele to make super gain when it is obvious that they can sell at the same price like other places and still make profit? A cement dealer, Mr Clement Nonso, who spoke on the rising cost of cement in the timber town, and first said, he was unaware of a bag of cement costing #3,600 – #3,700 when the same bag cost #3,400 in Warri, and #3,500 in Oghara and Jesse, said, “Sapele price is not that special but we determine price so that everyone can sell and it helps to keep some traders in check”
Madueke Kalu, a butcher said why they determine prices of cow when it is brought in was to give every meat seller a level playing field “you don’t know where they bought their cow or goat or sheep from, and before you know it, they will start selling at a cheaper rate and others might not be able to sell theirs, moreover the revenue people collect money from people who bring the goods in, so we have no choice than to add cost of bringing it in” adding that union also gives a sense of belonging to members.
What is the contribution of the union to the development of Sapele? One would ask. While the union members would not point one, residents in the locality have called on the local government Chairman to wade in, saying the associations are the major cause of the hike in price “let the Council chair checkmate these overbearing associations who think our lives is in their hands” Emiko Tosan, a resident of the town advised.
We can’t continue to blame our problems on inflation,” he said.
“The Unions are the people setting these prices to make extra gains. The traders in Warri, Oghara, Ughelli and even Jesse still make profits selling at the same prices, the union in Sapele are setting their prices at these levels to make super profits by taking advantage of the our (Sapele) people.
“Are we saying the increase in dollar rate is the reason why Sapele foodstuffs is morecoming expensive and services on the at is now behigh side?
Gbenga Adeboye, An economist, said the chairman should swing into action and cub this union for every services or food items an act that is now becoming a fad, “let the chairman rise and address the yearnings of Nigerians over the cost of necessary commodities.
“If people said we should not blame the government for this, then who else should we blame and that is why we need those who understand how to run our economy in power,’ he said.
He advised that, if the local government chairman can not handle the union, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC (formerly Consumer Protection Council) should be invited to look into it.