The Badagry Local Government on Saturday began operation of a 25 per cent discount market to cushion the effect of economic hardship on the people.

Unveiling the market at the council secretariat in Ajara, Badagry, the Chairman, Olusegun Onilude, said some basic foodstuffs were available to purchase at discounted amounts.

He said that the council borrowed the idea from the state government, which had earlier set up such discount markets.

He stated, “We saw Lagos doing it and we emulated them, just to cushion the effect of current economic hardship in the country. We have rice, beans, fresh and smoked fish, live chickens, garri, eggs, bread and groundnut oil, all at discounted rates for Badagry residents. This is the first edition, and with the large turnout of the people today, we will ensure that the exercise is a continuous one.’’

The chairman said that he discovered that many people did not get the free palliatives distributed by the council.

“But, I’m quite sure that anybody that can come to the venue will buy the discounted foodstuffs,” he said.

The Council Manager, BLG, Asokere Sejiro, said the discount market was organised to complement the food palliative programme of the local government.

Mr Sejiro said that the council would be encouraged to organisé the market twice in a month because of the large turnout of residents.

Supervisor for Agriculture, BLG and Chairman, Discount Market, Taiwo Towolabani, said interested buyers would be called in fifties to ensure orderliness.

Mr Towolabani said buyers would use automated teller machines or cash to buy foodstuffs of their choice.

Mrs Pentho Francis, one of the buyers, commended the chairman for organising the discount market for the residents.

“The discount market has afforded us the opportunity to come and buy foodstuffs here today, and there are many more food items to buy here than we get at Lagos discount markets,” he said.

(NAN)