FORMER chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), under the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) has advised the Federal and State Governments to establish food markets to cushion the effect of high cost of living in the country, just like Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu did in Lagos State. Sagay, who lauded Sanwo-Olu for the kind gesture, also asked the Lagos State Governor to extend the initiative indefinitely.
Sagay in an interview with newsmen noted that he’s hopeful that the administration of Bola Tinubu will address the challenges facing the country, stressing that things are very rough and that some measures should be taken in the interim to improve the situation.
Speaking on the state of the nation and one year in office of Tinubu, Sagay said, “For the populace it’s a very difficult year. The government is conscious of the hardship in the country from what I know. They’re struggling to put policies in place which will gradually alleviate the situation. We had a very difficult year in terms of prices, in terms of the value of the Naira which has nosedived. Nigerians are feeling it. Even the so called middle class which I personally belong, we had it very rough but I have hope in terms of the activities of this government which are geared towards alleviating this situation and bringing up our economy to a level that the majority of the Nigerian population general will be able to live fairly comfortably or at least relatively much better than we’re living now.
“I think that the government probably needs a little more time for things to be realized. Things are very rough and I think some measures should be taken in the interim to improve the situation while we wait for the results of the various policies, and one of them is which I personally enjoyed for three weeks, is Sanwo-Olu Sunday Food Market where the government bought agricultural products, like rice, beans, tomatoes and all others and sold them at less than half the price in the market.
“I wish Governor Sanwo-Olu had continued with that. In fact, I personally appeal to him, let it be for an indefinite period. Once we can reduce costs of food because that is the worst of all, our condition will be relatively much better than it is. I’ll advise all the governments, even the Federal Government to be involved in this buying of food and selling it at reduced price because the alternative of that is to place restrictions on prices and enforce it. Government has to do one of the two and I believe that the one Sanwo-Olu did in Lagos is probably the better option,” Sagay said.
