Sanwo-Olu announces return of ‘Ounje Eko’ Sunday market

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed that the Ounje Eko market with a 25 per cent cut in prices should return on Sunday.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this to newsmen at Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday.

The governor had pledged the return of the palliative measure during a live press conference on the eve of the recent 10-day nationwide protest, at his office in Lagos.

“On behalf of the Lagos State Government, we announce the commencement of the ‘Ounje Eko’ Food Discount Market Phase II, an initiative aimed at alleviating the impact of rising food prices on our citizens.

“This programme aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to supporting Lagos residents through innovative and impactful initiatives,” she said.

The ‘Ounje Eko’ Market pilot scheme had earlier begun on March 17, 2024, when the governor ordered that food products at the market be sold at discounted prices in all five divisions of Lagos.

Phase I of the Ounje Eko Food Discount Market held across its 57 local government areas and local council development areas on Sundays during the period.

Residents across Lagos enjoyed a 25 per cent discount on a variety of food items, including rice, beans, Garri, bread, eggs, tomatoes, etc.

While clarifying the modus operandi of the initiative on Wednesday, the Agric commissioner noted that the food prices may vary at different locations according to the “prevailing market rate.”

Olusanya said customers may not buy foodstuffs at the same price everywhere in Lagos despite the 25 per cent discount application, noting that prices varied from location to location.

“If in Ikorodu for instance, 5kg of garri is sold at N5,000, we would use N5,000 as the baseline rate, then we apply the 25 per cent discount on the N5,000. If we take 25 per cent off N5000, which is N1,250, it means we would be selling the Garri to you at N3,750.

“In the same vein, that same quantity of garri on Lagos Island might be N4,000 baseline. I would take N4,000 as the baseline for Lagos Island, and apply the 25 per cent discount, which comes down to N1,000, that means on Lagos Island, that same garri would be sold at N4,000,” she explained.