A report by New Telegragh indicates that the current scarcity of tomatoes in Nigeria has fueled smuggling of the crop from neighbouring countries like Ghana and Cameroon through land borders.

The alarm was raised by the chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos state chapter, Otunba Femi Oke, who stated that the shortage of the staple food had increased smuggling of the product into Nigeria.


Tomatoes prices has gone up to over 100%
He revealed that despite tomatoes being in the list of 41 items prohibited by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for importation, many Nigerians are now venturing into importation of the crop more of it ever before.

He said: ”Neighbouring West African countries like Ghana and Cameroon are actually benefiting from this right now.A whole lot of farmers are out of business.

”In the meantime, people are coming up with ways of cooking without tomatoes because tomatoes are a staple here. I went to the farm and I saw the devastation. It was like the biblical plague of the locusts that devastated Egypt.

”There was no green left. Moreover, the moths come like thieves in the night; you don’t even know until morning what they’ve done.”

Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have redoubled their efforts to curb the influx of tomato paste into the country.

NAFDAC had already given hint that it might ban the importation of tomato paste from China following a startling revelation from a research carried out by one of its subsidiary unit – Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN).

FSAN research revealed that out of 316 packs of tomato pastes purchased in Lagos and tested, 218 of them had less than the minimum requirement (28 per cent) of tomato in them.

The minimum requirement specified by the Codex Alimentarius Standards and Nigerian Industrial Standards is that tomato pastes should have at least 28 per cent tomato content.

Investigations revealed that there are warehouses in Seme and Cotonou in neighbouring Benin Republic packed with imported tomato paste which are ready to serve the Nigerian market at the expense of indigenous brands.

Tuta absoluta, popularly known as ‘Tomato Ebola’, a pest responsible for massive destruction of tomato, has invaded some states in Nigeria.

The federal government made this announcement on Tuesday, May 24, while also disclosing that Nigeria spent about N80bn ($400m) annually on importation of tomato paste, with many of the imported products appearing to be counterfeit.
http://www.bengist247.com/2016/05/tomato-crisis-fueling-smuggling-among.html?m=0

I am yet to see the smuggled tomatoes in the market. Whatever it takes to make sure tomatoes floods the market at cheaper prices. I support o!

This is what happens when the southerners depend on the northerners for food.

I'm ashamed of my country Nigeria.
A country with a population of 170million people cannot not boast of agriculture.

Giant of africa ni giant of africa ko

chai them wan cast ymodulus business

buhari is ***

Beremx:
I am yet to see the smuggled tomatoes in the market. Whatever it takes to make sure tomatoes floods the market at cheaper prices. I support o!

Rice nko?

Bokoharam is killing innocent people in the north
Ipob is Agitating for Biafra in south east
Niger Delta Avengers are bombing pipelines in south south
Fulani's herdsmen are kidnapping, raping and killing innocent people all over d federation
Our children are not sure of being d leaders of tomorrow
Our leaders who ought to lead are confuse
Tomatoes is gradually going into extinction
9ja which way?

What is smuggled tomato?

Allow it in so that the price can come down

Beremx:
I am yet to see the smuggled tomatoes in the market. Whatever it takes to make sure tomatoes floods the market at cheaper prices. I support o!

Relocate to Katsina, you will enjoy free tomatoes from me.

Naijacitizen:



Relocate to Katsina, you will enjoy free tomatoes from me.

haba that's not fair! because of tomatoes i have to relocate to katsina? try and send for me na! even if it's dry ones. I will appreciate.

ckmayoca:


Rice nko?

rice too o! the half bag of rice i bought for 5,400naira in February is now 7,000naira. it will still rise again.
God help us.

Beremx:
rice too o! the half bag of rice i bought for 5,400naira in February is now 7,000naira. it will still rise again.
God help us.

The thing tire everyone.

They should remove Tomato from the ban list and flood the market with imported tomatoes that pass the SON check till the next harvest season.

Beremx:
haba that's not fair! because of tomatoes i have to relocate to katsina? try and send for me na! even if it's dry ones. I will appreciate.

How do you want me to send you? Do you have an errand boy who is persistent travelling up north?

Naijacitizen:


How do you want me to send you? Do you have an errand boy who is persistent travelling up north?

ok lemme send you an email. hope your mail is active?

Beremx:
ok lemme send you an email. hope your mail is active?

Yeah

Naijacitizen:

Yeah

ok i have sent you an email some minutes ago. kindly check.

otokx:
They should remove Tomato from the ban list and flood the market with imported tomatoes that pass the SON check till the next harvest season.

With which forex?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_foWeOtICio

[size=14pt]How much for a tomato in Nigeria ?[/size]

Beremx:
I am yet to see the smuggled tomatoes in the market. Whatever it takes to make sure tomatoes floods the market at cheaper prices. I support o!

it seems the price is coming down,got some fr 4oo naira yesterday,it was fairly much.....