LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Residents of the Ijanikin area of Lagos State have expressed disappointment as the popular Ounje Eko market, located inside the Oto Awori Primary School, is rumored to be closing down after Sunday, April 8 sales.
This news has left the residents feeling regretful and apprehensive about the future.
Alhaja Rashidat Bello, one of the residents, expressed her sadness over the market’s closure, highlighting how it has positively impacted her and her family’s lives.
She said since she started patronising the market, the market has provided them with affordable goods and essential items.
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“Now that the market wants to close, we will have face the challenge of buying things at higher prices elsewhere,” she said.
Another resident, Mrs Lamidi, shared a similar sentiment, expressing her concerns about the increasing cost of goods.
“I thought that the market would continue to operate until the prices of goods in the regular market normalises but we are hearing that today is the mast day,” she said
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Despite her disappointment, she expressed gratitude for the assistance the market provided to her household during its operation.
A male resident who was seen on queue buying eggs also told this reporter that he will miss the market.
He said: ” One egg in my neighbourhood is N200 and a crate is between N4000 and N4500 so what I do is come here to buy as it is a walking distance from my house.
“I make daily income which is barely enough to feed my family and I but this scheme has ensured that my children gets to eat eggs almost everyday which is very essential for their health.”
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He also thanked the Lagos State government for the scheme.
Attempts by Voiceofnaija.com to gather more information from the Ounje Eko officials on the ground were met with silence.
It seems that the officials themselves are uncertain about the market’s future.
One of them said: “I am not aware of whether the market will open next week or not. Please ask my boss. What I know is that if I am told to come next week I will be here to do my job,” she said.