Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday paid an unscheduled visit to Garki Model Market and while interacting with the traders promised to talk to the market’s management to reduce the high cost of the stores.
The visit was done in alignment with the activities of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s two years in office.
The visit lasted for about 40 minutes. The traders complained about the high cost of renting stores at N250,000 per annum and also the high cost of buying wares from suppliers.
The acting president interacted with fish sellers and those dealing with consumables such as rice and onions who also spoke about high cost of the items.
Osinbajo told them that they could help in bringing down the cost of foods if they joined other Nigerians in farming.
“The more we farm the more the cost of products will come down’’, he said.
Osinbajo also pleaded with the traders to keep the prices as affordable as possible especially as the Ramadan fast was beginning.
Alhaji Nasiru Maiyaki, a rice seller, complained of inadequate store space, saying that the market management had yet to complete the shops the traders deposited money for long ago.
Osinbajo, who was greeted with loud cheers from the traders and buyers alike was accompanied by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar, and some presidential aides.
The acting president’s spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, told State House Correspondents that the visit was to enable his boss to get first-hand information of the situation in the market.
“He wanted to feel the pulse of Nigerians and hear directly from the people and have one-on-one with them.
“He also assured them that the administration is committed to improving the economy and ensure that life gets better for them’’, Akande said.
Osinbajo had earlier met with school children ahead of the Children’s Day celebration in his office and presented them with gifts.