Coronavirus: “FG Cannot Regulate Prices Of Face Masks And Sanitizers” – Minister of Health, Ehanire Osagie
Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire has disclosed that the federal government is worried about the increased prices of face masks and sanitizers in the country.
This is coming after Nigerians called on the federal government to sanction retailers who have hiked the price of hygiene products since the outbreak of Coronavirus in the country.
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The Minister said this while talking about federal government’s response to the coronavirus plague ravaging some countries around the world during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
He however stated that the federal government cannot regulate the prices of face masks and sanitizers because Nigeria operates a market autonomy.
In his words, the Minister disclosed that;
The government is concerned about prices going up. But you see, we operate a market autonomy. Those who are traders and suppliers are doing a brisk business by trying to increase importation and those who manufacture are also doing a brisk business scaling up the manufacturing of all these products.
So it is not surprising that the prices go up at the moment. The government makes sure that those agencies and organisations that need to have these materials have them.
The Minister also expressed hope of the health kits dropping when its vendors import more of it.
