Dangote Tomato Processing Company has asked the Nigerian government to impose a ban on importation of tomato paste into Nigeria.
The company’s Managing Director, Abdulkarim Kaita, made the demand recently during the inauguration of distribution of tomato seedlings to 5,000 farmers under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme that took place at Kadawa, Kura Local Government Area of Kano State.
While making the demand, Kaita said: “We are appealing to the Federal Government to put a total ban on the importation of tomato like what it did to rice.”
Kaita remarked that the move would not only encourage the local production of tomato but also guarantee its self-sufficiency.
He is also hopeful that the move would encourage development of additional tomato processing plants, which will create more employment opportunities in the country.
Kaita said Tomato paste importation still flourishes in the country as such imports still enteres Nigeria from Cameroun and Cotonou, Benin Republic.
He revealed that Dangote Tomato Processing Company had met with the Controller General at the Customs Headquarters in respect of the matter but nothing has been done to forestall the illegal practice.
He said: “It is only by putting a total ban on tomato importation that the government can encourage farmers to grow the commodity for the country to be self-sufficient.”
The company is liaising with the CBN to offer tomato farmers high yield seeds that are expected to produce a minimum of 40 tons per hectare.
While talking further, he said: “There are 12 major tomato producing states in the country which if fully cultivated, in the next one year Nigeria will be able to start exporting tomato.”
According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, Nigeria spends approximately $1 billion annually on importation of tomato paste while 75 percent of locally produced tomatoes perish owing to storage constraints.
