The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria has suffered losses exceeding N1.3 billion due to an outbreak of Tuta absoluta, a pest commonly known as the tomato leaf miner or “tomato Ebola,” in Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja during a four-day capacity-building workshop for financial institutions.
Kyari stated that the infestation has led to a sharp rise in tomato prices, with the cost of a 50kg basket skyrocketing from N5,000 to as high as N30,000.
The surge has worsened food inflation and put additional pressure on household finances.
He emphasized the severity of the outbreak, noting that the tomato leaf miner is capable of destroying entire tomato farms within 48 hours, posing a serious threat to the country’s food security.
“This crisis has exposed the vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s horticultural systems,” the minister said.
Kyari stressed the urgent need for the adoption of integrated pest management strategies, investment in resilient crop varieties, and greater support for farmers to strengthen agricultural supply chains.
He also highlighted the broader significance of the horticultural sector, stating that crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, citrus, pineapples, and plantains offer high commercial potential and help smallholder farmers diversify their income.
On the issue of nutrition, the minister pointed out that horticultural crops are rich in essential nutrients such as vitamins A and C, iron, zinc, and folate—nutrients vital for maternal health, child development, and disease prevention.
He urged stakeholders to prioritize the scaling up of production and affordability to combat malnutrition.
Addressing financial institutions, Kyari called for a more strategic approach to supporting the horticulture value chain.
He encouraged the development of tailored financial products suited to different stages of production, including seasonal credit lines, equipment leasing, invoice discounting, and trade financing.