Why Nigeria imports vegetables – Ojang
Says over 40 truckloads of tomatoes come into Nigeria daily from Cameroon Nigerians cross to Cameroon easily to import tomatoes, carrot and other vegetables. Do they do so legally? They do so legally. We pay duties to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Customs Service and any other agencies. Our association is registered […]
Says over 40 truckloads of tomatoes come into Nigeria daily from Cameroon
Nigerians cross to Cameroon easily to import tomatoes, carrot and other vegetables. Do they do so legally?
They do so legally. We pay duties to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Customs Service and any other agencies. Our association is registered and recognised, and so, we are not disallowed from carrying out our business.
Why do you have to go to Cameroon to import tomatoes which is cultivated in Nigeria?
Nigerian tomatoes are seasonal. From April to May there are usually no tomatoes in the country. We then have to import from Cameroon until August/September when Nigerian tomatoes are harvested.
Are you saying that tomatoes in Cameroon are all year round as against Nigeria’s?
That is correct. But the price would determine whether we have to bring it or not. If the price in Nigeria is favourable, we do not go for Cameroon tomatoes. When the harvest in Nigeria is much, we move the produce to Douala in Cameroon.
Can you quantify the volume of this trade across the Nigeria/Cameroon border?
The trade volume is really huge. For instance, a truckload of tomatoes from Cameroon into Nigeria is over N3 million. During what we call deep season, that is from June/July, we do take over 40 trucks in a day. That is roughly N120 million. As at 12 noon today, eight truckloads of tomatoes have already crossed from Cameroon into Nigeria.
Don’t you think importation of tomatoes can harm Nigeria’s economy?
I do not think so. But it has rather bolstered the Nigerian economy. Besides, as you can see, several government agencies and individuals at this border rely much on this trade, which is booming. This trade has provided lucrative jobs to many unemployed Nigerians. Government agencies here smile to the bank daily.
What about the local farmers, don’t you think your activities are a threat to them?
It is not a threat. Local farmers do not have the capacity to sustain all-year round production of tomatoes to satisfy the consumers. Nigeria does not produce enough to meet even local demand. That is why we have to fill the gap. As we speak, we are receiving orders to supply tomatoes in Warri, Port Harcourt, Lagos and other big cities. This is the reason we are putting pressure on our Cameroon suppliers not to disappoint us.
Farmers in northern Nigeria plant tomatoes in large quantities, can’t these sustain the Nigerian markets?
Recently, our union members went to northern Nigeria and found out that the quantity cannot meet demands. They also found that the local tomatoes were too watery and the quality was not good enough. They perish too quickly compared with Cameroonian tomatoes. As we speak, because of the demand in Nigeria, even Ghana, too is exporting tomatoes to Nigeria. Yet, it is only Cameroon tomatoes that have better quality.
How do you deal with smugglers and non-members of your union?
The way our union operates, there is no way smugglers can succeed through this border or other routes. I can assure that only our union members are involved in this cross border trade. Even in Cameroon, they have similar union that regulates and ensures that only their registered members produce and supply tomatoes. They are licensed by Cameroonian authority to export tomatoes. We, too, have license to import Cameroonian tomatoes to Nigeria. We even have a MoU between the two unions.
How is one eligible to become a member of your union?
New members pay N105,000 for registration which covers dues, ID card and other benefits.
How is the tension over the ongoing agitation for Amazonian Republic in Cameroon affecting the cross border tomato trade?
The Amazonian boys usually disturb us and do block the roads so that our trucks would not pass. We usually negotiate and bribe them, with money and baskets of tomatoes. Two weeks ago, for three days they blocked the roads, and that was why tomatoes became scarce in Nigeria then.