Warri Residents Lament As a Basket Of Tomatoes Costs Above N40,000

Residents of Warri metropolis have lamented the high cost of fresh tomatoes and pepper across commodity markets in the city. 

This Warri Sentinel Reporter went around popular markets across Warri sampling prices of tomato earlier today, Monday June 17, 2024. 

According to Mrs Ochulele Ovo at Igbudu Market, the smallest basket of tomatoes sells between “N40,000 to N45,000” while the big one sells between N50,000 to N60,000. Corroborating, one Alhaji Sanusi explained that the big basket of tomatoes is no longer available as a lot of buyers cannot afford it. Hence, traders have substituted the big basket with “crate”, which is smaller than a big basket. 

Laju Oyibo at Warri Main market blamed the soaring prices of farm produce and subsequent transportation to Warri for the hike in tomato prices and other food commodities. This she said has reduced patronages as residents of Warri continue to seek alternatives to fresh tomatoes and pepper. 

Vera Robert, a resident of Warri told Warri sentinel that she had been using cucumber and garden eggplant as alternatives to tomatoes for almost a month since she can not afford to keep up with the soaring prices of tomatoes. 

Dombra Oweikeme, another resident lamented the scarcity of fresh pepper at Okere market. He said, “it is bad enough that tomatoes is gold but what annoys me most is that pepper is becoming scarce and even more expensive.

“fresh pepper has become harder to find and buy because no one sells in baskets. It is just crazy what is happening in Nigerian markets.”

Bako Alhassan at Ugbuwangue market revealed that the sallah celebration is why tomatoes is available (though expensive). He predicted that the price of tomatoes might soar even higher after the public holidays if things stay as it is.