A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Eti-Osa Constituency II, Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu (GOY), has introduced a 50 per cent discount food market to cushion the impact of rising food costs on residents during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The initiative, which held on Saturday within the constituency, involved the sale of staple food items at highly subsidised prices, with some products offered at discounts exceeding 50 per cent.
Items on sale included rice, beans, garri, yam, palm oil, eggs, bread, meat, chicken, fish and Indomie noodles, while beneficiaries also received complimentary pepper mixes to support meal preparation.
Addressing residents at the venue, Yishawu said the discount market formed part of his broader social intervention efforts designed to reduce economic pressure on constituents, particularly during the festive period.
“We run several programmes in our constituency, ranging from education and digital training to entrepreneurship. Considering the festive season, we decided to reach out to our people by bringing down the prices of staple food items they really need,” he said.
He disclosed that more than 10,000 food items were made available for the exercise, with a limit of five items per buyer to allow as many residents as possible to benefit.
According to him, participants were permitted to mix different food categories based on their household needs.
The lawmaker explained that although the discount market was being implemented for the first time, arrangements were already in place to sustain the programme during future festive seasons. He referenced other long-standing initiatives, including a free school bus scheme that has operated for over five years, as proof of his dedication to continuity.
Yishawu also emphasised that the programme was open to all residents without political considerations.
“Nobody was asked for a party card. We represent everybody in this constituency. We reached out through SMS, billboards, flyers and social media over several weeks,” he said.
He clarified that voter registration cards were used solely to confirm residency within the constituency, while also encouraging eligible residents to participate in the voter registration process as a civic duty.
The initiative received praise from local government officials and political stakeholders. Chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area, Bola Oladunjoye, described the intervention as timely and beneficial, noting that “every saving counts” for households grappling with high food prices.
In the same vein, the Executive Chairman of Iru/Victoria Island LCDA, Mrs Aminat, commended Yishawu for his consistent support for constituents, saying the discounted food items would help residents celebrate the festive season at reduced cost.
Beneficiaries of the programme also expressed satisfaction, with one resident describing the prices as “amazingly low” and saying the initiative would allow less-privileged families to enjoy the holidays.
As large numbers of residents continued to arrive hours after the programme commenced, Yishawu assured constituents that adequate supplies had been provided to meet demand, reaffirming his commitment to initiatives aimed at delivering relief and support across the constituency.
