Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Jevaun Rhashan
The Oba Adebanji Alabi, traditional ruler of Ilawe Ekiti in Ekiti State, has directed market traders across his domain to reduce the prices of food items and essential goods in response to rising cost of living concerns affecting residents.
The monarch, who holds the title Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, issued the directive as part of efforts to ease economic pressure on the populace, particularly low-income earners struggling with escalating food prices. He instructed that traders must bring down prices of items such as gari, rice, beans, and plantain flour to reasonable levels and ensure the use of standard and acceptable measurement in all transactions.
Stone Reporters note that the directive reflects growing intervention by traditional institutions in addressing economic challenges at the grassroots level, particularly in communities where market pricing directly impacts daily survival.
In a swift move to enforce compliance, members of the Alawe-in-Council, alongside women chiefs including the Iyaloja and Iyalaje, carried out an inspection of the central market, popularly known as Oja Oba. The exercise, which lasted over an hour, involved direct engagement with traders and monitoring of pricing practices.
During the inspection, traders were urged to comply with the directive and cooperate in efforts to stabilise food prices. According to reports from the exercise, both buyers and sellers responded positively, with several residents expressing relief at the reduced prices observed during the enforcement visit.
Some buyers who benefited from lower prices during the exercise commended the monarch’s intervention, describing it as timely and necessary. Traders also reportedly pledged to adhere to the directive and adjust their pricing accordingly.
The Alawe further directed the market committee under the Alawe-in-Council to establish routine monitoring mechanisms across markets in the town to ensure sustained compliance and prevent a return to inflated pricing practices.
Stone Reporters note that the initiative underscores the influential role of traditional leadership in mediating economic and social issues within local communities, particularly where formal regulatory enforcement may be limited.
The development comes amid broader national concerns over inflation and the rising cost of food items, which have placed significant strain on households across Nigeria. The intervention in Ilawe Ekiti is likely to be closely watched as a potential model for community-based responses to economic challenges.
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