Residents of Owerri, the Imo State capital, have called on Governor Hope Uzodinma to fulfill his promise of establishing the Imo State Marketing and Commodity Board as food prices continue to rise on a daily basis.

The high cost of food items and other necessary services has left many families across the state struggling to cope, particularly as the removal of fuel subsidies has compounded the economic hardship.

Speaking to our correspondent in Owerri, several residents lamented that the hardship became more severe following the removal of fuel subsidies by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, which has pushed fuel prices above N1,000 per liter.

They noted that this has led to increased transportation costs, skyrocketing house rents, and a general rise in the cost of goods and services.

Recalling a promise made by Governor Uzodinma in July 2023 during a stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri, Imolites demanded the immediate establishment of the Imo Marketing and Commodity Board and market clusters across the 27 local government areas of the state as promised by the Governor.

The Governor had assured citizens of the state that such a board, when setup, would stabilize food prices and prevent unscrupulous individuals from exploiting the market system.

“I have discovered with pain, how traders are taking advantage of the economic situation to increase the prices of food items in the market,”

“The State government will soon establish the Imo State Marketing and Commodity Board, which will ensure food items are sold at normal prices.

“We shall achieve this by setting up low-cost markets in the State where prices of food items and commodities will be affordable for the masses. The markets will be situated in all the 27 LGAs of the State,” the Governor had promised.

However, more than a year later, there is no sign of the promise coming to fruition as the price of food items keeps skyrocketing to the detriment of the poor masses.

Residents of the state have expressed disappointment, particularly now that elected local government chairmen and councilors are in office, as many had expected the projects to materialize under their supervision.

Mr. Reginald Iwuoha, a businessman in Owerri, described the situation as a betrayal of public trust.

“We were full of hope when the Governor made that promise, but it’s been over a year, and nothing has been done. People are suffering. If the Marketing and Commodity Board had been established, it would have helped regulate food prices and ease the burden on us,” Iwuoha lamented.

At Relief Market in Owerri, Mrs. Adanna Uka, a mother of four, shared her frustration over the skyrocketing food prices coupled with the rising cost of school fees.

“I can barely feed my children, let alone pay their fees. A bag of rice now sells for over N95,000. How do they expect us to survive? The Government must intervene immediately,” she cried.

Similarly, Cosmas Ibe, a trader at World Bank Market, lamented the challenges faced by both traders and buyers.

“Transportation costs have doubled since the fuel subsidy removal, and we have no choice but to increase the prices of goods. If the Government had set up those market clusters as promised, we wouldn’t be facing these problems,” he noted.

As the cost of living continues to soar, many Imo citizens are calling on Governor Uzodinma to fulfill his promise.

Analysts further argue that the establishment of the Imo Marketing and Commodity Board is crucial to mitigating the economic hardship in the state.

With the reconstitution of several state boards and the inauguration of their members last Friday, residents are questioning why the commodity board has not been prioritized, urging the state government to provide much-needed relief.