The Edo State Government has warned traders and sellers of food items against being insensitive to the plight of Edo residents by hiking the price of food items and other household essentials during the containment of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, Mr Joel Edionwele made this known in a statement made available to journalists in Benin City.
Mr Edionwele said it is unfortunate that some citizens were exploiting the national public health concern caused by the coronavirus outbreak to make gains.
He disclosed that the state government through the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment and its agencies has commenced monitoring of prices of essential commodities throughout the state, and any person found to be anti-government shall be treated according to the law.
He urged all citizens to assist in any way possible to reduce the hardship that may be associated with the restriction in movement caused by the outbreak of the virus.
He appealed to traders and sellers of food items and household essentials to refrain from exploitative tendencies, stressing that no citizen should cash in on this period for any reason.
FUNMI IMUETINYAN
FIC BENIN
