Shehu Jibrin, Chairman of Mile 12 International Market in Lagos, has identified insecurity, insufficient supply, and plant infestations as the primary causes of the recent dramatic price hikes in tomatoes and peppers in Nigeria.
In an interview on Channels Television, monitored by DAILY POST on Monday, Jibrin explained the factors behind the significant increase in prices. DAILY POST gathered that the price of three pieces of tomatoes and peppers has skyrocketed from N100 and N50 a few months ago to N1000 and N500, respectively. This indicates a staggering 900% increase within a short period.
Jibrin pointed out that the supply chain of these essential commodities has been severely disrupted. “The supply of tomatoes and peppers to Lagos from other states has dropped significantly due to insecurity and plant diseases,” he said.
He emphasized the urgent need for governmental intervention to address these issues. “Except the government tackles insecurity, the problem of high prices of tomatoes and peppers will remain unsolved,” Jibrin asserted. He highlighted that the current off-season should see supplies from regions like Ilaro, Ogbomosho, Abeokuta, Osun, and parts of Cameroon, but these have been delayed. “The ones from Cameroon cannot feed the nation. The demand is high, but the supply is insufficient,” he added.
Jibrin also pointed out the impact of a disease known as tomato Ebola, which has drastically reduced the expected supply from northern Nigeria. “We expect tomatoes from the North to be available at this time, but because of the tomato Ebola disease, we cannot have sufficient supply,” he noted. He elaborated that many farmers in the North are displaced due to ongoing security concerns, making farming activities nearly impossible.
“If Nigeria cannot tackle insecurity, the prices of tomatoes, peppers, and other perishables will continue to go up. Farmers are not going to the farm due to insecurity. There is no solution except for farmers going to the farm,” he concluded.
The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, also attributed the price hike to the scarcity caused by an infestation of tomato farms known as tomato Ebola or tomato leaf miners. The Tomatoes Growers Association of Nigeria supported this claim, highlighting the severe impact of the infestation on production.
The National Bureau of Statistics, in its latest Consumer Price Index and Inflation report, indicated that food inflation has risen to 40.66 per cent and 40.53 per cent, respectively, reflecting the broader impact of these supply chain disruptions.
In summary, the confluence of insecurity, insufficient supply, and plant diseases has created a perfect storm, driving the prices of tomatoes and peppers to unprecedented levels. Addressing these root causes is imperative for stabilizing the market and ensuring the availability of these staple foods for Nigerians.
