NAN-H-20
Unionist
By Chinyere Bassey
Lagos, April 7, 2017 (NAN) A unionist, Mr Lateef Oyelekan, on Friday told the Federal Government to reduce the tariff on imported tomato concentrates from 50 per cent to 10 per cent.
Oyelekan, who is the President of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
“The 50 per cent increase is on the high side. We appeal that the tariff should be reduced to 10 per cent because the tariff will cause producers to increase price.
He lamented that five tomato companies had closed business, due to non-availability of foreign exchange, worsening business climate and low patronage.
“Tomato is an important food component and we want to ensure that it is sold at a lower cost for millions of people to buy.
“ If the cost of tomato concentrate is high, consumers will purchase only fresh ones and the industry will be shut and hundreds of people will be thrown into unemployment. ’’
The union leader, however, commended the Federal Government for banning the importation of tomato paste, noting that the ban would boost local production of the commodity.
Nigeria’s domestic demand for tomatoes is estimated at 2.3 million tonnes per annum while only 1.8 million tonnes are produced locally. (NAN)
CHIN/FF/SN
===========
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Silas Nwoha