The Tomato Crates Dealers Association of Nigeria and the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria have issued a warning to suspend tomato supply to Lagos State following the destruction of over 60,000 empty tomato crates during a recent market clash in Oke-Odo.
Alhaji Ahmed Alaramma, the National Chairman of the Tomato Crates Dealers Association and also the National Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers, expressed grave concern over the destruction of commodities during the recent clash at Oke-Odo market in Lagos.
He revealed that the incident resulted in burning more than 60,000 empty tomato crates, causing significant financial losses to the association’s members.
He added that the plastic crates were introduced to mitigate the damage and wastage while conveying fresh tomatoes from the North to Southern parts of Nigeria.
“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 the area boys prevented our people from quenching the fire. We have video evidence and other proof supporting our claims,” the chairman said.
According to him, each empty crate costs N6,000; therefore, members lost over N360 million in investment.
He appealed to the Federal Government, Lagos State government and other relevant stakeholders to look into this and compensate the association to cushion the effect of the damage.
He said the association was already in touch with its legal team over available legal remedies in the event of an unfavourable response from the government.
“If nothing is done, we will have no option than to cut the supply of tomatoes to Lagos over this incident,” Alaramma said.
