Customers demand refunds as Osogbo food outlet shuts

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

Scores of customers on Monday besieged a food outlet in the Odi-Olowo area of Osogbo, Osun State, following the sudden closure of the business after they had reportedly made advance payments for food items.

The business, identified as Global Food Initiative, reportedly began the food purchase scheme on August 4, attracting customers with prices of rice, cooking oil, spaghetti, semovita and other food items said to be significantly lower than prevailing market prices.

Under the arrangement, customers were required to pay for the food items in advance and return after about a week to collect their packages. Some customers said they had previously participated in the scheme and received their goods as expected.

However, customers who arrived at the outlet on Monday to collect items they had paid for reportedly found the premises locked, while the operators were said to be unreachable, leaving many of them demanding explanations.

One of the people at the scene said, “The trade has been going on since August 4, and people have been investing and gaining from it, just as expected to get their products after a week”.

The source added that some customers had invested substantial amounts in the scheme, including one individual who was said to have invested about N6 million and became distressed at the outlet earlier in the morning.

There were conflicting accounts among the customers concerning the whereabouts of the business owner, with some alleging that the operators had left, while others said they could not confirm what had happened.

Some customers also expressed dissatisfaction with a radio report aired on Sunday, which allegedly warned members of the public about possible fraud linked to the scheme, although the claims could not be independently verified.