Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday, paid a surprise visit to the popular Garki Model Market in Abuja.

 

The visit which was meant to afford him the opportunity of interfacing with the traders was said to be part of activities marking the second anniversary of the present administration.

 

Some of the traders complained about the high cost of renting shops in the market among other challenges during Osinbajo’s visit that lasted about 40 minutes.

 

Osinbajo who arrived the market at about 3.10pm was accompanied by Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, among other top government officials and presidential aides.

 

An unnamed fish seller appealed to the Acting President during an interaction to intervene on their behalf and ensure that the rent of shops in the market which she put at N250,000 per annum is reduced.

 

A rice seller, Nasiru Kuryfi, complained of inadequate store space in the market.

 

Kuryfi said the market management had not completed some of the shops they paid for long ago.

 

Osinbajo promised to talk to the market management about the high cost of rent.

 

The Acting President also encouraged the traders and all other Nigerians to go into farming, saying, “The more we farm, the more the cost of products will come down.”

 

Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, told State House correspondents that Osinbajo’s visit to the market was part of activities to mark the second anniversary of the administration.

 

“The Acting President wanted to feel the pulse of Nigerians and hear directly from the people and have a one-on-one with them and assure them that the administration is committed to improving the economy and ensure life gets better for them.

 

“The visit coincided with the beginning of the Ramadan fast and Osinbajo encouraged the traders to keep the prices as affordable as possible,” he said.

 

Punch