Ogun traders protest high cost of fish

Traders in Sagamu, Ogun State, on Wednesday, protested over what they termed ceaseless hike in the price of fish.  The fish sellers, who stormed Sagamu streets, expressed their frustration that the skyrocketing prices have adversely affected their business.  The traders, carrying placards and singing solidarity songs, marched through Makun market and later stormed the palace […]

Traders in Sagamu, Ogun State, on Wednesday, protested over what they termed ceaseless hike in the price of fish. 

The fish sellers, who stormed Sagamu streets, expressed their frustration that the skyrocketing prices have adversely affected their business.

 The traders, carrying placards and singing solidarity songs, marched through Makun market and later stormed the palace of the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, to register their displeasure.     

 According to the fish sellers from various markets in Sagamu, the skyrocketing prices of fish had affected their business as customers blamed them for the arbitrary increase.

 They demanded immediate action to alleviate the economic hardship in Sagamu and other parts of the state.  

 One of the protesters said, “The way they are increasing prices of fish is too much… What is happening? 

 “This is Sagamu right now. Titus is now N2,000, while Sawa is N1,000. 

 “Is that not too much?”

 A resident told City & Crime that, “A fish of N1,200 last week suddenly became N1,800 this week.”

 A cold room business operator, Deji Soyemi, explained that the peaceful protest was meant to keep the customers and residents abreast of the ceaseless hike of price of fish.   

 “They embarked on the protest due to the high cost of fish. The customers felt the retailers were just increasing the price at will. The outcry started in Ibadan when people started to question the ceaseless increase in fish price.

 “We buy fish from Lagos. You can buy a carton of fish for N10,000 today and the next day, the price will jump to N15,000. Price of fish now increases within two to three days.

 “So, the fish sellers believed that with the rally, the customers will be aware of their plights in order for them to know that the retailers are not the ones increasing the prices of fish arbitrarily,” Soyemi said. 

 He added that the fish sellers have demanded suspension of fish sale by the cold rooms in Sagamu between Wednesday and Thursday as part of the protest.

 “They have also mandated all the cold rooms not to sell fish to anyone for today and tomorrow. So, we have to abide by their demands,” he said.

 The Chairman of Sagamu Local Government Area, Afolabi Odulate, could not be reached for comments by our correspondent as his mobile phone rang out.