Hike In Food Prices Worries Athletes

Athletes participating in the 17th  National Sports Festival at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex have cried out over the hike in food prices in the area.

An athlete who confided in our reporter said that a satchet of water was sold for about N20.00 instead of the normal N10.00 as it is elsewhere in Rivers State.

According to her, the hike in price at the sports complex was affecting the programme as sportsmen and women could not buy things at will.

She hinted that a plate of food was also sold above N300.00, saying the food items at the complex are meant to be sold at subsidised rate.

The sports women blamed the development on revenue agents who demand N200.00 from food vendors on daily basis.

She maintained that athletes in the area ought to enjoy their stay in the state regretting that food vendors and others are making their stay uncomfortable.

Our reporter who was at the sports complex, reported that some security operatives in the area have intervened by stopping the revenue agents from issuing tickets to vendors.

The security men, noted that the actions of the revenue agents were wrong, adding that collecting N200.00 from food vendors was on the high side.

They threatened to arrest the agents if they fail to reduce their rates.

When the chairman, Ikwerre Local Government Revenue Agent Unit I Igwuruta-Ali, Mr Stephens Johnson was contacted, he said that plans were underway to reduce the ticket price.

Johnson, also said that they are talking seriously with food vendors and other business operators inorder to ensure that the athletes in the area enjoy there hospitality of the state.

Meanwhile, the Adokiye Amiesimaka complex is bubbling with life as business operators troop into the area on daily basis.