Subsidy Removal: Traders urge FG, States to repair roads as panacea for rise in cost of food items.

By Fidelis Ugbomeh.

As part of efforts to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, the federal, state and local governments have been enjoined to repair all federal roads so as to have access to markets in the country 

The Chairman, Hausa Traders Association of "Ile-Epo"  Alhaji Muazu Idris who made this remark in  an exclusive interview with our Correspondent in Lagos recently said that the cost of evacuating food stuffs from the Northern parts of the country to the markets in the south and other parts of the country has increased due to bad access of federal and state roads into the markets.

                Alhaji Muazu Idris.

         Alhaji Ibrahim Gwogwonbiri.

They noted that if the cost of transportation is reduced, it will definitely force down the prices of goods and services adding that proceeds accruing from the subsidy removal should be channel towards road construction and provision of security.

They pointed out that since the federal government  removed fuel subsidy, the turnout of vehicles conveying fodstuffs, finished goods and people in and out of markets around Ifako-Ijaiye and Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos. have reduced drastically.

They stated further that due to the poor state of roads from Jebba to Birinin-Gwari divers conveying food stuffs like Yam, tomatoes, yam amongst others their vehicles sometimes spend between three and four days on the road.

According to the Chairman of the traders, the infrastructural  at the Ile Epo and   Katangua markets needs to be developed considering the strategic location of the markets..

The secretary general of the association Alhaji Usman Mohammed in his remarks enjoined the Lagos state government to convert the large expanse of dump site at Ile-Epo to a big garage adding that presently the dump site serves as a hideout for criminal elements especially in the early hours of the day.

The special assistant to the chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Gwowonbiri said that in-spite of the efforts of the police to curtail excesses of hoodlums  some of them snatch phones and hand bags especially from women.

He expained  further that on Tuesdays the association ensures that members of the association drawn from all tribe ensure that refuse are cleared under the supervision of  local government and council officials.