Abati - Tomato Scarcity As Metaphor

One of the major news items in circulation has been the scarcity of tomato. Incidentally, Nigeria is (was) the 14th largest producer of tomato in the world and the second largest producer in Africa, after Egypt, but our country hardly produces enough to meet the local demand of about 2.3 million tonnes, and lacks the capacity to ensure an effective storage or value chain processing of what is produced. Out of the 1.8 million tonnes that the country produces annually, 900, 000 tonnes are left to rot and waste. Meanwhile, tomato-processing companies in the country operate below capacity and many of them have had to shut down.

The CEO of Erisco Foods, Lagos, Eric Umeofia laments that tomato processing companies lack access to foreign exchange to enable them buy heat-resistant seedlings and other tools that would help ensure the country’s sufficiency in local production of tomato paste. Similarly, Dangote Tomato Factory recently suspended operations due to the scarcity of tomatoes and the assault on its tomato farms by a tomato leaves destroying moth, known as “tuta absoluta” – a South American native, also known as the Tomato Ebola, because of its Ebola-like characteristics.

Fuel Supply, Harsh Economic Climate; Nigerian Consumers Groan As Food Prices Rise By 50%

Following the persistent shortage in fuel supply and the harsh economic climate, there has been an average of 50 per cent hike in the prices of consumer goods and buyers are complaining bitterly.
In some Lagos markets visited by our correspondent, including Oyingbo, Iddo, Mile 12, Alade and Ipodo, prices of some food items like tomato puree, rice, vegetable oil and seasoning had increased substantially.

Our correspondent found out at the Ipodo Market that a carton of Indomie was sold for N1,500 as against the former price of N1,000; a retail pack of Gino tomato puree(70gm), formerly offered at N1,250, went for N2,700, while a five-litre keg of vegetable oil previously sold for N1,800 was offered for N2,500.