Reports indicate that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has banned market associations from controlling the prices of food and forcing members to sell at specific rates.

The Ooni threatened to banish any trader from Ile-Ife, caught hiking the prices of food items and other goods beyond the agreed-upon price.

His decision aims to address the rising prices of food and other commodities. The Ooni of Ife conveyed this message to the market associations and unions through his chiefs.

The monarch emphasised that traders are free to set their prices. Speaking to the market association, the chief stated:

“In the name of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and the 16 Chiefs, the market heads (Babaloja and Iyaloja) of Ile-Ife should go and inform all market men and women in Ile-Ife that starting from today, Kabiesi has cancelled anything called market associations.

Also, anyone who thr3atens or coerces another to sell their foodstuffs or goods at a particular price will be dealt with. Everyone should sell at their own price. Also, people selling pepper should not sell a portion for more than N200. The act of selling a portion of pepper for N500 should stop from today.

For those selling foodstuffs, anybody who cheats customers by selling 7 cups as a congo of rice, once caught, will leave the city. Similarly, any outsider who comes to trade in Ile-Ife should be welcomed. Anybody who chases an outsider who came to trade away will be sent out of Ile-Ife.”

In response to the news, many Nigerians praised the Ooni for his efforts to address the rising food prices.

Nigerians on social media urged President Tinubu’s Iyaloja daughter to take similar actions to combat the soaring food prices in Lagos State.

Here are some reactions,

papus_trigger: We can’t keep skyrocketing prices of food, if the federal government won’t give a price list of items let our traditional monarch help us out, good move

i_ontrust_nobody________: Wow finally our Oba don step up. Kudos Kabiyesi

holokleriafoods: Lagos Kings too should come and speak to our market people o

damilolabanire: This is really what our traditional rulers should invest in, they are the ones closest to the grassroots. A laudable one and they should prepare to make a scapegoat with somebody's mother or father or even grandparents wey violate the decree

missamusa: Tinubu and his iyaloja daughter cannot do this one.

joyaccess_: very good move…if this can be done in Lagos as well…because i don’t just understand them as you are buying from them they will be telling you that next market you come they will be selling for 200k and if you go after some days the price will be same everywhere…how beans take reach 230 for bag just how

grace_emmanuel_52: This is what the government supposed to do “food control policy" but you won’t see them doing it instead they will be adding more tax on imports. I am happy about this development

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