By Okhide Em’ya David
Cold-room Owners in Benin, Edo State of Nigeria have blamed the Federal Government for the high cost of fish, accusing the administration of issuing import licenses to foreigners who arbitrarily fix prices of the highly sourced and nutritious food item.
Fish is said to be rich in important nutrients and may lower risk of heart condition.
In Edo State, the Popular Ice Fish was a cheap source of protein for the lower class of the society until recently when the all-important food item began to disappear from dining tables of many homes due to the skyrocketed prices of the commodity.
Following the problem, Retail Traders of Fish protested in Benin City pointing accusing fingers at the Wholesalers who also operate Cold-rooms.
However, Chairman of Cold-room Owners Association in Benin City, Mr. Osawaru Obazee and another operator of Cold-room, Mrs. Josephine Ehigiator, blamed the federal government for issuing import licenses to foreigners to import fish to Nigeria.
They said the foreign importers now impose prices and force traders to accept whatever fish they import to the country.
High exchange rate and poor electricity supply were some of the reasons cited by the cold-room owners.
A retail fish trader in New Benin Market, while speaking under anonymity lamented that the sudden increase in prices of fish is making their business difficult.
She said all they want is for the cost to return to what is was for them to have mass patronage especially in the prevailing economic hardship.
