News in brief: Fish sellers in Abeokuta protested against a 100% increase in fish prices, urging the government to intervene and regulate cold room operators.
Fish sellers in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, Nigeria, have taken to the streets to protest a recent hike in food prices. The protesters marched to the governor’s office to lament the over 100% increase in the price of fish by operators of cold rooms in the state.
They were armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘No to High Fish Prices’ and ‘We Need Affordable Fish,’ as seen in a video posted on a disucssion forum. They urged the government to intervene and bring down the prices of fish. Additionally, they called for a regulation of the activities of cold room operators to prevent further price increases.
The hike in food prices has been attributed to a number of factors, including the rising cost of transportation, the depreciation of the naira, and the ongoing insecurity in some parts of the country. The increase in fish prices has particularly affected low-income households, who rely on fish as a source of protein.
The protesters’ demands have been met with mixed reactions from the public. Some have expressed sympathy for the fish sellers and called on the government to take action to address the issue of high food prices. Others have argued that the government should not interfere in the market and that the price of fish should be determined by supply and demand.
The protest by the Abeokuta fish sellers highlights the growing concern about the rising cost of food in Nigeria. The government has been urged to take steps to address the issue and ensure that food is affordable for all Nigerians.
