The Tomato Crates Dealers Association of Nigeria and the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria have issued a warning to halt tomato supply to Lagos State due to alleged destruction of their goods by suspected area boys.
Ahmed Alaramma, the national chairman of the Tomato Crates Dealers Association, delivered the ultimatum during a press conference in Zaria on Sunday. He cited the recent attack on their members at the Oke-Odo market in Lagos, resulting in the loss of over N360 million worth of investments.
Alaramma explained that during the turmoil, more than 70 members of the association, who rent out crates to tomato dealers nationwide, suffered significant losses. The incident led to the destruction of over 60,000 crates, which were slated to be returned to the north.
He emphasized, “These crates were set ablaze by the area boys during the altercation, and they hindered our efforts to extinguish the fire. We possess video evidence and other documentation to substantiate our claims.”
Mr. Alaramma further noted that the dealers had shifted from transporting tomatoes to the south using raffia baskets to utilizing plastic crates to reduce damages and wastage.
Regarding JaizBank, he mentioned that each empty crate amounted to N6,000, resulting in total investment losses of N360 million.
Alaramma appealed to the federal and Lagos state governments, as well as other relevant stakeholders, to investigate the incurred losses and provide appropriate compensation to the association. He stated that the association had already engaged its legal team to explore available legal options should the government’s response be unfavorable.
“If no action is taken, we will be left with no choice but to suspend tomato supplies to Lagos in response to this incident,” Mr. Alaramma concluded.
