The Cross River State government is subsidising prices of foodstuff, such as rice, tin tomatoes, groundnut oil and sweet corn, by as much as 40 percent, The Nation reports.
The subsidy on the foodstuffs, which is already drawing traffic from even neighbouring states to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone where the foodstuffs are being sold, is the first of its kind in the state according to some residents.
A bag of rice that goes for between N22,000 and N25,000 in the open market is being sold at N15,000 in Tinapa.
Also a pack of tin tomatoes that sells for N9,000 in the market is being sold at N6000 in Tinapa.
Sweet Corn and groundnut oil are being sold at N8,000 and N7,000 respectively as against N11,500 and N11,000 in the open market.
Commissioner for Finance, who also doubles as the Managing Director of Tinapa Free Trade Zone, Asuquo Ekpeyong Jnr., said the subsidy on the foodstuff was to enable citizens celebrate the Christmas with their families despite the economic condition in the country.
Ekpeyong said: “The Governor, Senator Ben Ayade decided to subsidise the cost of food stuff in this yuletide season to enable the people of Cross River State celebrate with their families whether they are indigents or not.
“We reduced the cost, working with the operators by paying off some of the cost of the goods up to 40 percent.”
Mr Felix Eyibo, who came to see his family living in Calabar from Akwa Ibom, said: “I decided to branch and buy some food stuff in Tinapa due to the price reduction because I can’t see at such a price at Uyo. God will bless your governor and I hope other governors will see the good things he is doing in Cross River State and copy same.”
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