The Niger government has established the state price control and monitoring board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair pricing and consumer protection.

Abubakar Usman, secretary to the Niger government (SSG), inaugurated members of the board on Thursday in Minna.

The eight-member board has Hussaini Ahmed, a former permanent secretary as the chairman.

Mr Usman noted that the inauguration of the board marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and consumer protection.

He said that the board was expected to control and stabilise prices of essential commodities and eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, hoarding of essential commodities across the state.

He said that the board would also handle issues that may arise as a result of enforcement and penalty for contravention of guidelines among several others.

“The board will be responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of essential commodities and keep prices under continuous surveillance.

“They will also interpret price movement and relate them to other developments in the state’s economy,” Mr Usman said.

He said the board was expected to interface with relevant stakeholders such as local government chairmen, traditional institutions and councilors and market organisations to ensure the success of their mandate.

The SSG enjoined members of board to bring their wealth of experience and expertise in economics, consumer affairs and market dynamics to bear in their assignment.

He said that their appointment underscored the government’s dedication to maintaining economic stability and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and businesses in the state.

In his remarks, the board chairman, Mr Ahmed, assured that the board would interface with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state in order to bring succour to the populace.

Other members of the board include Hamza Bello, permanent secretary, investment; Aliyu Abubakar, permanent secretary, local government and chieftaincy affairs and Garba Abdullahi, from ministry of basic education.

Also on the board are Adamu Maikasuwa, ministry of agriculture; DCP Aminu Garba, Nigeria Police, Niger command; Aminu Ladan, chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area and Usman Liman, retired statistician-general as secretary of the board.

(NAN)