The Cross River \u00a0State Government is subsidising prices of foodstuffs such
\nas rice, tin tomatoes, groundnut oil and sweet corn by as much as 40
\npercent to enable the residents of the state celebrate the coming
\nChristmas with joy.<\/p>\n
The subsidy on the foodstuffs, which is already drawing \u00a0traffic from even
\nneighbouring states \u00a0to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone where the foodstuffs
\nare being sold, is the first of its kind in the state according to some
\nresidents.
\n\u200e
\nThe State Commsioner for Finance who also doubles as the Manging Director
\nof Tinapa Free Trade Zone, Asuquo Ekpeyong Jnr. said the subsidy on the
\nfoodstuffs was to enable citizens of the state celebrate the Christmas
\nwith their families despite the current\u00a0\u00a0economic condition in the
\ncountry. \u200e<\/p>\n
“The Governor, Senator Ben Ayade decided \u00a0to subsidize the cost of food
\nstuff in this yuletide season\u00a0to enable the people of Cross River State
\ncelebrate with their families whether they are indigents or not.<\/p>\n
“We reduced the cost, working with the operators by paying off some of the
\ncost of the goods up to 40 percent .<\/p>\n
“We know that people will rush for it because of the present economic
\nrealities and we have provided for the required stocks that will cater to
\nthe needs of the estimated \u00a0population of \u00a0the people living in the
\nstate.”
\nOn why the government decided to use Tinapa as the selling point, Ekpeyong
\nsaid; “We are doing a double bottom approach method by providing for the
\nwelfare of the people of Cross River State and at the same time driving
\ntraffic to Tinapa for the retail sales.<\/p>\n
“The Governor has been working hard with the management of the Nigeria
\nCustoms Service over the last one year to try and see how to revive trade
\nin Tinapa and we have gotten to certain level in the commercial sales but
\nthat of retail sales is still lagging behind. So we are using the subsidy
\non the food items to attract traffic into Tinapa and will last till early
\nJanuary 2017.”<\/p>\n
Some of the residents who went to buy the food stuffs at Tinapa were
\nbeside themselves with excitement.<\/p>\n
“We are very grateful and happy with our digital governor, who out of
\nconcern for our wellbeing in view of our present economic hardship,
\ndecided to subsidise\u00a0 the price of most needed foodstuffs during Xmas for
\nus.<\/p>\n
“This is the first time a governor will be providing such an opportunity
\nfor the people during the yuletide season. God will continue to bless
\nhim,” Mrs Ekpeyong Silo, said.<\/p>\n
Also Mr Felix Eyibo who came to see his family living in Calabar from Akwa
\nIbom said: “I decided to branch and buy some food stuff in Tinapa due to
\nthe price reduction because I can’t see at such a price at Uyo. God will
\nbless your governor and I hope other governors will see the good things he
\nis doing in Cross River State and copy same.”<\/p>\n
Findings revealed that a bag of rice that goes for between N22,000 and
\nN25,000 in the open market is being sold at N15,000 in Tinapa.
\nAlso a pack of tin tomatoes that sells for\u00a0 N9,000 in the market is being
\nsold at N6000 in Tinapa.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Sweet Corn and groundnut oil is being sold at N8,000 and N7,000
\nrepectively as against N11,500 and N11,000 in the open market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Cross River \u00a0State 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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n