Ounje Eko Sunday market: Mixed reactions trail newly launched scheme

The 25% discount on food items seemed too good to be true, prompting Olaleye to visit the Ifako-Ijaiye outlet, one of the 27 locations opened in Ikeja local government, the day it launched on March 17th, to confirm the authenticity of the discount.

When Mrs. Lara Olaleye, mother of four, heard about the 'Ounje Eko' initiative, she assumed it was a sham by the Lagos State Government, posturing to alleviate poverty by offering food items at the same market price.

After launching the Fresh Food Hub, a mid-level agro-market located in the Mushin axis in January, the Lagos State Government rolled out the 'Ounje Eko' scheme across five divisions in the state. This initiative offered various food items at a 25% discount. The 25% discount on food items seemed too good to be true, prompting Olaleye to visit the Ifako-Ijaiye outlet, one of the 27 locations opened in Ikeja local government, the day it launched on March 17th, to confirm the authenticity of the discount. “By the time it was our turn to go for the food items that we paid for, we picked up some but some had finished. Our vouchers were signed on, and we were asked to come back the following Sunday,” she told The Record. She returned to shop on March 24 and was able to use up al…