Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has taken decisive steps to address the current surge in food prices in the state, urging stakeholders to accelerate efforts in bolstering local food production, Truth Live News reports.
Obaseki conveyed this resolve on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, during a ‘Stakeholders Meeting on Price Stability for Goods and Services in Edo State’ at the Urhokpota Hall in Benin City.
In his address, the Governor stressed the need for collective action and strategic planning to mitigate the impact of the soaring cost of living. “Blame games won’t solve the issue; we need a concerted effort and a well-thought-out strategy,” he established.
Expressing concern over the economic challenges facing the nation, Obaseki relayed the importance of proactive measures to navigate through the crisis.
He added by stressing the government’s commitment to supporting local farmers to ramp up food production in the state, citing it as a crucial step towards alleviating hardship.
Furthermore, Governor Obaseki pledged support for initiatives aimed at reducing transportation costs by promoting local farming and ranching, encouraging collaboration with market unions and offered assistance to farmers and entrepreneurs in various sectors, including fisheries, to boost local production and address import dependency.
During the meeting, stakeholders, including representatives from the Market Women Association and the Edo State Exporters Clusters, commended the Governor’s efforts and proposed additional measures to tackle the food price hike. Suggestions included inter-state collaborations among governors and dialogue with importers to stabilize prices.
The event was attended by key government officials, including the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Commissioner for Business, Trade and Cooperatives, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Commissioner for Public Safety and Security, as well as local government council chairpersons, and other dignitaries.
Truth Live News can confirm that Governor Obaseki’s proactive measures is directed at alleviating the economic burden on Edo citizens by addressing the root causes of the food price hike and enhancing sustainable solutions through collaboration and local empowerment initiatives.