Market clash: Unions threaten to cut tomato supply to Lagos

Because of the purported destruction of its products, the Nigerian Tomato Crate Dealers Association has threatened to stop supplying tomatoes to Lagos State.

Alhaji Ahmed Alaramma, the association's national chairman, made this announcement on Sunday at a news conference in Zaria.

The conflict at the Ile-Epo Market in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos state, which started on May 1, according to Alaramma, the National Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, destroyed their investment in more than 60,000 empty tomato crates.

He continued by saying that plastic crates were introduced because the raffia basket, which was originally used to transport tomatoes to the south, ended up causing more damage to the tomatoes.
"We have over 60,000 crates that were about to be returned to the north at the market during the unrest. Over 70 members of the association rent out the crates to tomato dealers across the country."

"The 'area boys' burned these crates during the fight, preventing our people from putting out the fire.

The chairman declared, "We have audio-visual and other proof supporting our claims."
He said that since each empty crate costs N6,000, the members' investment lost more than N360 million.

To lessen the impact of the harm, he did, however, call on the federal government, the state government of Lagos, and other pertinent parties to investigate the matter and pay the association.

Alaramma stated that in the event that the government responded negatively, the association had already communicated with its legal counsel about its options for legal action.

He declared, "We will be forced to stop the supply of tomatoes to Lagos over this incident if nothing is done."

On Wednesday night, a portion of Ile-Epo Market caught fire due to a brawl between thugs, resulting in numerous injuries and the destruction of some merchandise.

The Nigerian Police Force detained 50 persons in connection with the altercation after the crash.