FCCPC Seeks to Reduce Hike in Food Prices
…As Traders Lament Double Taxation, Insecurity, High Cost of Transportation
From ERIC MOORE, Port Harcourt
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC ) has expressed concerns about the continuous rising of goods and services, especially foodstuffs in the market.
Zonal Coordinator, FCCPC, Mr. Chukwuka Uchegbu, stated this when the commission carried out fact-finding interactions with traders’ associations and marketers to ascertain factors responsible for the continuous hike in food prices in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday.
Uchegbu noted exploitative and some unscrupulous practices as well as double taxation, contributing to hike in food prices in the market.
He said: “You know that recently, the Dollar rate went up and that also drove the price of goods and services in the market place. But, the government in its wisdom has done everything it can to reduce the rate of Dollar against Nigeria. But, we have not seen a commensurate reduction in price of goods a d services.
“Yes, people are saying that whenever price goes up, it cannot come down again. But, we are saying what drove the price of goods and services up and what is sustaining it? That is why we decided to take this exercise with the market leaders, sellers and buyers. So, when we collate this information we are gathering, we use it advise the government on policies on what or things to do.
“We know the total essence of government is for welfare and security of the citizens. I know the current government is the government that listens.”
According to him, some of the money collected by representatives of some agencies on the roads are not remitted to government coffers, stressing that if these illegal practices not are stopped, price of goods will definitely remain on the increase.
“There is nobody we interviewed that didn’t say the same thing. From Benue State to Rivers State, each truck pays not less than N190,000 to N250,000; not on anything that is legal on the road. Drivers pay the money to touts; each community, each local government would take their own. That is part of the problem.
“Another problem we also noticed is what we call price gauging. When marketers see that these goods are not coming, they few that have it will now begin to increase the prices the way they want.
“We have also seen conspiracy by some marketers that buy in bulk. Someone we interviewed at the first market said they go to the farmers and pay them even before the goods are harvested. When somebody has done this, the trader has bought virtually everything from that point. He will collect all the goods and determine price.”
Meanwhile, marketers and drivers in Rivers State have attributed hike in food prices to multiple taxation, insecurity and high cost of transportation by fuel and diesel increment.
They emphasized that high cost of goods, particularly foodstuffs in the market, has nothing to do with exchange rate.
Some of the marketers and drivers warned that failure of government at all levels to address the problems, prices of goods and services will continue to rise in the market.
Ends.