Ife Market Association Ban: Fixed Prices Disrupt Fair Trade for Residents — Ooni’s Spokesperson

Nafisat Arogundade

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has stated that the ban placed on market associations and threatened to banish market men or women who sell food items beyond the reach of common people is as a result of conspiracy to fix the price of goods in his domain.

This action follows numerous complaints from residents regarding the inflated prices of goods compared to neighboring towns.

Chiefs in a viral video, yesterday,informed market men and women that, “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, the Kabiesi has canceled anything called market associations.”

Speaking on a radio program, Lagbo Oselu on Fresh FM, Osogbo, on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary of the Ile-Ife palace, Moses Olafare, said that the decision is a result of complaints from the residents of the town about conspiracy among the market associations.

Olafare said that upon receiving these complaints, the Ooni of Ife promptly initiated an investigation, which discovered that these market associations, which are not registered or regulated like official trade unions, were responsible for setting these inflated prices.

He further stated that the action prevented individual traders from selling their goods at competitive rates, thereby restricting free market practices.

He said that the Ooni summoned the market heads to a meeting to address the issue, which made it evident that the associations were behind the fixed pricing, leading to the price disparities between Ile-Ife and the surrounding towns.

According to him, “We observed that some people organized themselves into market associations to fix prices for selling goods throughout Ile-Ife.

“If you buy goods at the rate of #1000 in Ile-Ife, when you get to Olode, Ifetedo, Osu, Sekona, or Gbongbon, the same goods are sold at the rate of #500.

“We investigated the cause of the price difference within Ile-Ife and the neighboring towns, which are only a five-minute drive away and in the same state.

“Residents of Ile-Ife came to the palace to inform the king about the market associations that caused the hike in food prices because the associations did not allow individuals to sell their goods at their own will.

“We further investigated and found that the associations are not under government regulation, like trade unions, which are under government regulations. These associations are not registered or have any regulations that guide them.

“We called the market women and men to a meeting to explain the different prices of goods between Ile-Ife and the neighboring towns, and we observed that it is the associations that cause the fixed prices in Ile-Ife.

“Ooni of Ife took this action for the convenience of the people of Ife, not to compel anyone on how to conduct their business.

” Ooni is deeply committed to ensuring the welfare and convenience of the people of Ife. The practice of enforcing fixed prices by these unregulated market associations is unacceptable and goes against the principles of free trade,” he said.