By Merit Ibe
The chief executive officer, Rimax Group, a computer solutions firm, Livinus Okwara, has urged the federal government to establish a price control mechanism that will ensure increase in price of goods at any level once in a year.
Okwara, who decried the state of the economy and the steady rise in the price of products in the market, noted that things are going wrong because nobody is in charge, saying the economy is just erratic.
“The first solution to the issue of increasing price is to have total control of the situation.” According to the CEO, that will hold everything in check .
He suggested that prices should be displayed on products so that people cannot suddenly take laws into their hands and increase price to embarrass citizens.
“Most times, price increase is organised by groups. The increase has been causing instability in the economy.
It is affecting government and individual planning.
But with price control, which will cause defectors to be punished, things will be done the right way. When they know there is punishment awaiting unlawful increase, they will desist from it.”
He supported the clamour for the Federal Government to open the borders, saying closing the borders will cause dissafection with neighbouring countries.
“With the scarcity of food, prices are going up. People are causing artificial increases and frustrating the supply of goods by hoarding.
But when the borders are open, food comes in, hoarding will stop and prices will be forced down. This will in turn stabilize prices.”
He advised that government should rapidly sponsor the production of food.
“Right now there is more talk than action, saying on the state of emergency declared on food security, government should sponsor plantation to ensure that arable lands are cultivated for farming.
“We should produce for consumption. Declaring a state of emergency on food security and nothing is being done to save the situation is not the way. The ministries who are in charge should take this seriously.
At least by now, we should be seeing the foods produced through emergency measures. They are supposed to have flooded the country now, but we are yet to see anything. Government should act fast.” He applauded the Lagos State government for his many efforts.