The Cross River State Government is subsidising prices of foodstuffs such
as rice, tin tomatoes, groundnut oil and sweet corn by as much as 40
percent to enable the residents of the state celebrate the coming
Christmas with joy.
The subsidy on the foodstuffs, which is already drawing traffic from even
neighbouring states to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone where the foodstuffs
are being sold, is the first of its kind in the state according to some
residents.
The State Commsioner for Finance who also doubles as the Manging Director
of Tinapa Free Trade Zone, Asuquo Ekpeyong Jnr. said the subsidy on the
foodstuffs was to enable citizens of the state celebrate the Christmas
with their families despite the current economic condition in the
country.
“The Governor, Senator Ben Ayade decided to subsidize the cost of food
stuff in this yuletide season to enable the people of Cross River State
celebrate with their families whether they are indigents or not.
“We reduced the cost, working with the operators by paying off some of the
cost of the goods up to 40 percent .
“We know that people will rush for it because of the present economic
realities and we have provided for the required stocks that will cater to
the needs of the estimated population of the people living in the
state.”
On why the government decided to use Tinapa as the selling point, Ekpeyong
said; “We are doing a double bottom approach method by providing for the
welfare of the people of Cross River State and at the same time driving
traffic to Tinapa for the retail sales.
“The Governor has been working hard with the management of the Nigeria
Customs Service over the last one year to try and see how to revive trade
in Tinapa and we have gotten to certain level in the commercial sales but
that of retail sales is still lagging behind. So we are using the subsidy
on the food items to attract traffic into Tinapa and will last till early
January 2017.”
Some of the residents who went to buy the food stuffs at Tinapa were
beside themselves with excitement.
“We are very grateful and happy with our digital governor, who out of
concern for our wellbeing in view of our present economic hardship,
decided to subsidise the price of most needed foodstuffs during Xmas for
us.
“This is the first time a governor will be providing such an opportunity
for the people during the yuletide season. God will continue to bless
him,” Mrs Ekpeyong Silo, said.
Also Mr Felix Eyibo who came to see his family living in Calabar from Akwa
Ibom said: “I decided to branch and buy some food stuff in Tinapa due to
the price reduction because I can’t see at such a price at Uyo. God will
bless your governor and I hope other governors will see the good things he
is doing in Cross River State and copy same.”
Findings revealed that a bag of rice that goes for between N22,000 and
N25,000 in the open market is being sold at N15,000 in Tinapa.
Also a pack of tin tomatoes that sells for N9,000 in the market is being
sold at N6000 in Tinapa.
Similarly, Sweet Corn and groundnut oil is being sold at N8,000 and N7,000
repectively as against N11,500 and N11,000 in the open market.