Abiodun moves to cut food prices, expand mass transit fleet
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced plans to introduce a government-backed bulk food purchase scheme to reduce the cost of essential commodities, while promising to expand the state’s mass transit fleet to ease transportation challenges facing workers and other residents.
Abiodun disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting with organised labour representatives from the Ijebu axis in Ijebu-Ode, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and policies aimed at improving the living conditions of residents.
The governor said the initiative was conceived in response to the rising cost of living and followed a suggestion by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hameed Ademola-Benco.
He explained that bulk purchasing would enable the government to negotiate more favourable prices for essential commodities, thereby providing economic relief to households facing rising food costs.
According to him, the initiative could also stimulate competition in the open market, as traders may be encouraged to review their prices in response to the availability of essential goods at lower rates through the government-backed platform.
Abiodun assured the labour leaders that his administration would work towards making the scheme operational, stressing that government policies must address the practical economic challenges confronting workers and other residents.
On transportation, the governor promised to increase the number of mass transit buses available to government workers and members of the public.
He said the planned expansion was in response to concerns raised by organised labour over the need for more buses to ease daily commuting, reduce transportation costs and improve the movement of workers and residents across the state.
Abiodun explained that improving public transportation remained an important part of efforts to enhance workers’ welfare and reduce the financial pressures associated with daily travel.
