The Tomato Crates Dealers Association of Nigeria and the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria have issued a warning to Lagos State, threatening to halt tomato supplies due to the destruction of their goods.
National Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Ahmed Alaramma, made the announcement at a press conference in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Sunday.
He stated that the clash at Ile-Epo market (Oke-Odo) last Thursday in Lagos resulted in the destruction of over 60,000 empty tomato crates. Alaramma, who is also the National Secretary of the Amalgamated Union, explained that raffia baskets were initially used to transport tomatoes to the southern regions, but they caused significant damage.
He noted that plastic crates were introduced to minimize damage and waste during the transportation of fresh tomatoes from the north to the southern parts of Nigeria.
“Over 70 Members of the association rent out the crates to tomato dealers across the country; we have over 60,000 crates which were about to be returned to north at the market during the turmoil.
“These crates were burnt by the area boys during the clash and the area boys prevented our people from quenching the fire. We have video evidence and other proof supporting our claims,” the Chairman said.
According to him, each empty crate cost N6000; therefore members lost over N360m investment.
He appealed to the federal government, Lagos state government and other relevant stakeholders to look into this and compensate the association to cushion the effect of the damage.
He said the association was already in touch with its legal team over available legal remedies in the event of unfavorable response from the government.
“If nothing is done, we will have no option than to cut supply of tomatoes to Lagos and other Southern states over this unfortunate incident,” Alaramma said.
