Residents of Owerri, the capital of Imo State, have called on Governor Hope Uzodinma to honor his 2023 pledge to establish the Imo State Marketing and Commodity Board, as the cost of living continues to escalate. The price of food items and other essential services have risen sharply, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet, especially in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidies, which has further deepened the economic hardship.
Several residents spoke to our correspondent in Owerri, expressing frustration over the worsening economic situation. The removal of fuel subsidies by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has led to a surge in fuel prices, now exceeding N1,000 per liter. This has caused a ripple effect, increasing transportation costs, inflating house rents, and driving up the prices of goods and services across the state.
During a stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri in July 2023, Governor Uzodinma assured Imolites that the establishment of the Imo State Marketing and Commodity Board would stabilize food prices and prevent market exploitation. He also promised the creation of low-cost markets across the state’s 27 local government areas, which would offer affordable food and commodities to the public.
The Governor’s statement, however, remains unfulfilled over a year later, as food prices continue to soar, placing an added burden on the already struggling population. Residents have expressed disappointment, particularly in light of the recent inauguration of local government chairmen and councilors, who were expected to oversee such projects.
Mr. Reginald Iwuoha, a businessman in Owerri, criticized the delay, calling it a betrayal of public trust. “We were full of hope when the Governor made that promise, but it’s been over a year, and nothing has been done. People are suffering. If the Marketing and Commodity Board had been established, it would have helped regulate food prices and ease the burden on us,” Iwuoha lamented.
At Relief Market in Owerri, Mrs. Adanna Uka, a mother of four, expressed her distress over the skyrocketing food prices, coupled with rising school fees. “I can barely feed my children, let alone pay their fees. A bag of rice now sells for over N95,000. How do they expect us to survive? The Government must intervene immediately,” she said.
Similarly, Cosmas Ibe, a trader at World Bank Market, highlighted the challenges faced by both traders and consumers. “Transportation costs have doubled since the fuel subsidy removal, and we have no choice but to increase the prices of goods. If the Government had set up those market clusters as promised, we wouldn’t be facing these problems,” he noted.
As the cost of living continues to soar, many Imo residents are urging Governor Uzodinma to fulfill his promise of establishing the Imo Marketing and Commodity Board. Analysts agree that the Board’s creation is essential in alleviating the economic burden on the state’s citizens. Despite the reconstitution of several state boards and the inauguration of their members last week, residents are questioning why the Commodity Board has not been prioritized, calling on the state government to provide much-needed relief to the people.
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