The chairman of Mile 12 International Market in Lagos, Shehu Jibrin, has attributed the over 500% increase in tomato and pepper prices in Nigeria to inadequate supply, instability, and infestation.

Jibrin revealed this on Monday during an interview that Obasanjonews.com saw on Channels Television.

According to information obtained by Obasanjonews.com, three pieces of pepper and tomato are currently sold for N1000 and N500 in most Nigerian markets, up from N100 and N50 a few months ago. This suggests that throughout the review period, the cost of tomatoes and peppers grew by a factor of nine hundred.

Jibrin discussed the price increase and mentioned that plant diseases and insecurity had caused a major decline in the supply of tomatoes and peppers to Lagos from other states.

“The issue of excessive tomato and pepper prices will not be resolved unless the government addresses insecurity,” he declared.

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We anticipate tomatoes from Ilaro, Ogbomosho, Abeokuta, Osun, and a portion of Cameroon to arrive in Lagos as it is currently the off-season. Regretfully, the individuals from Abeokuta, Ogbomosho, and Cameroon arrive late. The Cameroonian people are unable to feed the country. The supply cannot keep up with the high demand.

“We anticipate having access to tomatoes from the North at this time, but there isn’t a significant supply because to the tomato Ebola disease.

Assume that out of the 5000 farmers in the nation, less than 1500 are engaged in blind farming. At the moment, camps for internally displaced people house the majority of Northern farmers. Prices for perishables such as tomatoes and peppers may rise further if Nigeria is unable to address the issue of insecurity. Because of the insecurity, farmers are not visiting their farms. Farmers going to the farm is the only option, he declared.

Previously, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture, attributed the increase in tomato prices on their scarcity as a result of an infestation known as tomato Ebola or tomato leaf miners on tomato farms.

The food product’s price increase was attributed by the Nigerian Tomato Growers Association to tomato ebola.

Remember that food inflation rose to 40.66% and 40.53%), respectively, according to the National Bureau of Statistics’ most recent Consumer Price Index and Inflation report.