Hon. Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu, popularly known as GOY, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Eti-Osa Constituency II, has launched a 50 per cent discount food market to support residents during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The initiative, held on Saturday in the constituency, featured the sale of essential food items at heavily subsidised rates, with some products discounted by more than 50 per cent. Items sold included rice, beans, gari, yam, palm oil, eggs, bread, meat, chicken, fish and Indomie noodles, while buyers also received free pepper mixes to support household meal preparation.
Speaking at the event, Yishawu said the discount market was part of his ongoing social intervention programmes designed to ease economic pressure on residents, especially during the festive season.
“We run several programmes in our constituency, ranging from education and digital training to entrepreneurship. Considering the festive season, we decided to reach out to our people by bringing down the prices of staple food items they really need,” he said.
According to the lawmaker, over 10,000 food items were made available, with each buyer allowed to purchase up to five items to promote fairness and wider access. He explained that residents were free to combine different food categories based on their household needs.
Yishawu said although the initiative was being implemented for the first time, plans were already in place to make it a regular feature during festive periods. He referenced the sustainability of earlier programmes, including a free school bus scheme that has been operating for more than five years, as proof of his commitment to continuity.
On participation, he emphasised that the programme was non-partisan and open to all residents of the constituency. “Nobody was asked for a party card. We represent everybody in this constituency. We reached out through SMS, billboards, flyers and social media over several weeks,” he said.
He added that voter registration cards were used strictly for resident identification within the constituency, while encouraging eligible citizens to see voter registration as part of their civic responsibility.
The initiative received commendation from local government officials and political leaders present at the event. Chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, Bola Oladunjoye, described the programme as timely and impactful, stating that “every saving counts” for families coping with rising food prices.
In the same vein, the Executive Chairman of Iru/Victoria Island LCDA, Mrs Aminat, praised Yishawu for consistently delivering relief initiatives, noting that the discount market would allow residents access cheaper food items during the festive period.
Residents who benefited from the programme also shared positive feedback. One beneficiary described the prices as “amazingly low” and said the initiative would help less-privileged families enjoy the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
With crowds still arriving hours after the programme began, Yishawu assured residents that supplies were sufficient.
