Fish sellers in Sagamu, Ogun State, have on Wednesday taken to the streets over the persistent rise in the price of the commodity.
The fish sellers stormed Sagamu streets to express frustration that the high cost of fish is having an adverse effect on their businesses.
The traders, carrying placards and singing solidarity songs, stormed the palace of the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, to register their displeasure.
According to them, the high price of fish has chased away customers who blame them for the increase.
They demanded immediate action to alleviate the economic hardship in Sagamu and other parts of the state.
“The way they are increasing the price of fish is too much. What is happening? One Titus is now N2,000, while Shawa is N1,000. Isn’t that too much?” one of the traders said.
A resident lamented that the fish bought at the rate of N1,200 last week has suddenly risen to N1,800 this week.
Another resident, Lola, said her fish supplier had told her on Saturday that fish sellers would go on strike for 10 days starting November 1.
A dealer, Deji Soyemi, explained that the peaceful demonstration was meant to keep customers and residents abreast of the incessant hike in the price of fish.
“We buy fish from Lagos. You can buy a carton of fish for N10,000 today and the next day, the price will jump to N15,000. The price of fish now increases within two to three days.
“So, the fish sellers believed that with the rally, the customers would be aware of their plights,” Soyemi said.
He said the fish sellers have demanded a suspension of fish sales by cold rooms in Sagamu between Wednesday and Thursday.
