By IyeneAbasi Etim
I have nothing but fond memories from my time in Benin City, Edo State. The warmth of its people, the affordability of living, and the overall serenity made my years there unforgettable. Yet, beneath the surface of these pleasant recollections lies a concerning transformation that has gripped the city in recent times.
My connection to Benin City began on a rather dramatic note. When I went to write my Post UTME examinations at the University of Benin, I was involved in a serious auto accident. Despite the severity of the incident, it became a testament to the kindness inherent in the Edo People. A doctor at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) not only paid all my medical bills but also became a father figure to me throughout my stay at the University of Benin.
During my time in the city, one of the aspects that brought me the most joy was the affordability of food and transportation. From my second year at the university, I stopped bringing foodstuff all the way from Lagos because food was so affordable. The low cost of living allowed students and residents alike to focus on their studies and daily lives without the constant worry of financial strain.
However, a recent conversation with a friend who still resides in Benin City painted a starkly different picture. The once serene and affordable city is now grappling with food scarcity and soaring prices, issues that were previously more common in cities like Port Harcourt and Uyo. This shift is largely attributed to the rising influence and demands of market unions, which have significantly disrupted the local economy.
Market unions and associations have become a source of contention in Benin City. Their actions, which include price gouging, creating artificial scarcity, and forcing market men and women to sell at higher prices, have led to increased costs of food, directly impacting the livelihoods of the people. The ripple effect of their demands has resulted in a market where essential goods are becoming increasingly unaffordable.
Mrs. Odion (not her real name) shares her story: “I plant ugu (pumpkin leaves) in my house because I have a large space, and when it became clear that I could not consume all because it yielded so well, I decided to sell in the market. The trade association came and warned me that my own vegetables were too big, that I must reduce them or they would stop me from selling in the market. I refused for a while, but they came and scattered my market. After a while, I agreed and reduced my ugu, but they came again and told me that I cannot come every day, that I have to sell only two or three times a week so that ugu will be scarce in the market. I told them that if I don’t sell every day, the ugu will go bad and waste, but they insisted. So, every time I come to the market, they scatter my market and say I want to spoil business for other people.”
A yam seller, Khalid (not his real name), also testified how trade associations have made it impossible for them to sell at affordable rates to the populace. “They come to me immediately when my market arrives from the North, they ask me for the price and as soon as I tell them, they tell me to increase it by one thousand naira, that they will get their cut like eight hundred naira from each market that we sell. We used to fight a lot because of it, but now, what many of them do is to buy everything from us immediately our truck comes from the North and sell it how they like.”
Many residents also report that these market union personnel, enriched by their corrupt practices, buy up large quantities of food produce from farmers and then sell them to neighboring states like Delta, Rivers, and Anambra. This leaves Edo residents with only leftovers and crumbs, plunging them into hunger and hardship.
What exacerbates the situation is the apparent inaction of the government under Governor Godwin Obaseki. Despite several outcries on radio and television, Governor Godwin Obaseki has only paid lip service to the matter. This lack of response has not only allowed the situation to persist but has also led to a sense of abandonment among the people. The government’s failure to address these pressing issues has contributed to the deepening crisis of food scarcity and hunger.
It becomes imperative to call for immediate and effective government action to alleviate the suffering of the people. The people of Edo State deserve better. Known for their resilience and kindness, they should not be left to fend for themselves in the face of rising costs and scarcity. It is time for the government to step in, address the root causes of these issues, and work towards a solution that will bring back the serenity and affordability that once defined this great city.