By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Fish sellers in Edo state have protested over hike in the Prices of fishes.
NatureNews gathered that the protest which has lasted for three days has led to scarcity of fish in the state.
Fish sellers under the auspices of Traders’ Welfare Union of Nigeria drawn from several markets in Benin City on Thursday, protested over the activities of cold room owners and operators who they accused of arbitrary increase in the prices of fish.
They marched to the secretariat of the Edo State Council secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), protesting that a carton of fish which they used to buy N7,000 has within few years skyrocketed to N37,000.
President, Traders’ Welfare Union of Nigeria, Rufus Okukpe, who spoke to the Vanguard, said due to the incessant increase in prices of fishes, they have stopped the selling of fishes at the moment, vowing not to return to the market until the government intervenes in the matter.
“Prices of Fishes in our various markets in Edo State have continued to increase on daily basis such that a carton of fish that we used to buy for seven thousand naira – N7,000 a few years ago has skyrocketed to N37,000 – thirty-seven thousand naira.
“This has made the prices of fishes to be way out of reach for the common man and woman of Edo State.”
They urged the state government to look into the alarming situation where every seller or provider of particular service to the people form unions always regulate prices of their commodities.
