By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The price of tomatoes and other food products may spike very soon if the threats by the Tomato Crates Dealers Association of Nigeria and the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria are carried out.
At a press briefing on Sunday, the National Chairman of the tomato sellers, Mr Ahmed Alaramma, said supply to Lagos may be cut because of the destruction of products of the group’s members in the metropolis last week during a clash among hoodlums at the popular Ile-Epo Market.
Recall that last week, some thugs at the market destroyed food products over a disagreement.
Addressing newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State, Mr Alaramma, who doubles as the National Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, commended the destruction of over 60,000 empty tomato crates by the hoodlums.
According to him, his members began to use the crates to convey tomatoes to the markets because of convenience as the raffia basket caused more damage.
He noted that each empty crate cost N6,000, and with over 60,000 empty tomato crates burnt during the mayhem, his members have lost over N360 million in investments.
“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 the north at the market during the turmoil.
“These crates were burnt by the area boys during the clash and they (area boys) prevented our people from quenching the fire. We have video evidence and other proof supporting our claims,” he stated.
Mr Alaramma declared that if nothing is done to compensate his members, “We will have no option than to cut the supply of tomatoes to Lagos over this incident.”
He charged the federal government, Lagos State government and other relevant stakeholders to look into the matter, as the association was already in touch with its legal team over available legal remedies in the event of an unfavourable response from the governments.
Adedapo Adesanya