The Chairman of Mile 12 International Market in Lagos State, Shehu Usman Jubrin, has attributed the recent surge in prices of tomatoes, peppers, and other perishable goods to insecurity and other factors.
Currently, a small basket of tomatoes sells for about N35,000 at the market, which is renowned for its foodstuffs, and the price of pepper has also increased, causing concern among Nigerians.
Usman identified the insecurity in northern Nigeria as a primary reason for the price hikes.
“The main issue is insecurity. That’s the truth. There’s nothing the country can do about it for now. This price hike will persist. People are still buying tomatoes at the rate of N1,000 for three pieces,” he stated during Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
“About ninety-nine per cent of the people in IDP camps are farmers. They know nothing apart from farming – both men and women. Currently, only about 1,500 out of around 5,000 farmers across the country are working on farms, and they do so with great caution,” he explained.
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Usman also mentioned that some farmers are forced to negotiate with and pay bandits to access their farms for harvesting.
“In regions where these items are sourced, farmers have to negotiate with bandits, asking, ‘How much will you pay me to harvest and bring these to the market?’” the Mile 12 Market leader noted.
“As long as these farmers remain in IDP camps, the country will continue to face challenges regarding the availability and cost of food items.”
