Price of pepper is expected to crash following the resumption of normal business activities at the Sasa market which was reopened Tuesday on the order of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state.
Sasa market in Akinyele local market is the major pepper market in the state and its closure created scarcity of food items which sent the prices upward especially that of pepper.
Findings by InsideBusiness show that traders, during the closure of the market were left with no choice than to travel some kilometers to get pepper for daily distribution.
“70 per cent of the pepper traders in Ibadan travel as far as Mile 12 market in Lagos to get pepper to distribute to retailers and consumers” according to Sola Badiru, a trader at Omi-Adio market at Apata district of Ibadan who noted that “Pepper is not just scarce but the price increased in three folds”.
During the closure of the market, aside the transport fare, Tomato basket was sold for N17,000, as against the N7,000 price tag before the closure while the price of scotch bonnet pepper(Ata Rodo) increased from N4,000 to N12,000 owing to the short supply occasioned by the violence that left many dead and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.
Residents of Ibadan in general will be relieved by the reopening of the market following the agreement to sustain peace by the representatives of the Yoruba and Hausa communities who are stakeholders in the market.
After the meeting of the stakeholders led by the Baale Sasa, Amusa Alabi, and Seriki Hausa of Sasa, Haruna Mai Yasin, Governor Makinde stated that the market was reopened so that people can continue to make ends meet while he also lifted the curfew imposed on the area in the wake of the violence that erupted in the market recently.
With the return of normalcy, the government plans palliatives such as solar lights, and adequate security measures to ensure people go about their normal businesses without threats.
“Since peace has returned to the market and the community, we have given the go-ahead that the market be reopened. I have ordered that some palliatives be done. This is because we also want to see what is happening there at night. So, I instructed that solar light be done so that we will see what is going on there every day and night.
“In our environment, economic activities are very germane and basic. We do not want our people to be hungry and angry so that we do not precipitate another issue.
“So, closing the market for an extended period of time is not sustainable but the fact that all the stakeholders within the community have come together themselves is a good step in the right direction.”
Makinde also announced the closure of Iroko market adding that its promoters were reportedly part of the traders who caused the recent clash at Sasha market.
He said: “The Iroko Market will remain shut. From what we heard, the promoters of that market were part of the people causing confusion and problem at Sasa Market. We will take a long-term view of the Iroko Market but in the meantime, it must remain shut.
“I thank you because I know what it takes for you to be here. I have listened to you the leaders of Sasa.
“When my brother-governors visited Seriki Sasa’s palace, while we were working around, I realised that both the people I saw at Seriki’s place and those I met at Baale’s place were not happy because they have been deprived of doing their job.
“If you look at Oyo State, even when the COVID-19 was at its peak, I decided not to shut our market places because I know and also explained to the leadership of the country at the national level that in our state, we have people that the proceeds from what they get today will determine if they will eat tomorrow or not.
“So, considering the economic situation and the peculiarities we have with us, I have heard what you said, and we will immediately reopen the Sasa Market.
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