The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, attributes the tomato scarcity in parts of Nigeria to a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner.
As the price of fresh tomatoes skyrockets, many households have turned to tomato pastes and other alternatives.
In a Monday post on X (formerly Twitter), the minister stated that the Federal Government has taken measures to address the issue.
Kyari said, “A significant number of our tomato farms have been affected by a severe infestation known as Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner. This has drastically reduced the availability of tomatoes and contributed to rising costs.
“Our ministry is taking immediate action to combat this issue. We are deploying agricultural experts to affected areas to contain and eliminate the infestation.
“Additionally, we are supporting our farmers with the necessary resources and guidance to recover their crops as quickly as possible, just as we instituted the Ginger Blight Control Taskforce.
“We understand the impact this has on your daily lives and are working tirelessly to resolve the situation and restore the supply of affordable tomatoes. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time.”
Meanwhile, the minister reported that an estimated ₦309 billion was injected into the Nigerian economy through harvests last year, as part of efforts to ensure food security.
He made this announcement while providing an update on the ministry’s achievements during the ongoing 3rd ministerial sectoral update, which is part of the activities marking the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.