TheCable

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday paid a surprise visit to the Garki Model Market in Abuja.

Accompanied by some government officials, Osinbajo who stayed there for about 40 minutes, interacted with the traders.

After a rousing welcome, the traders talked to him about some issues affecting their operations.

They complained about the high cost of renting shops as well as the high rate of food items.

A fish seller at the market begged Osinbajo to look into the cost of renting shops, which she put at N250,000 per annum.

Another trader, Nasiru Kuryfi, who sells rice, complained of inadequate space to store his wares.

He said the market management had not been able to complete the construction of the shops “which they paid for long ago”.

Reacting, the acting president promised to talk to the management about the high cost of rent

He, however, enjoined the traders and all other Nigerians to go into farming as such will help reduce the cost of food items.

“The more we farm, the more cost of products will come down,” he said.

Laolu Akande, spokesman of the acting president, while addressing state house correspondents at the end of the visit, said the surprise visit was part of activities to mark the second anniversary of the administration.

“He wanted to feel the pulse of Nigerians and hear directly from the people and have one on one with them and assure them that the administration was committed to improving the economy,” he said.