A devastating resurgence of the tomato leaf miner commonly referred to as Tomato Ebola has gripped key tomato-producing states in northern Nigeria, leading to over ₦1.3 billion in crop losses and sparking a national surge in food prices.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture confirmed on Wednesday that the pest, Tuta absoluta, has destroyed thousands of hectares of tomato farms in Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
The insect, known for its ability to destroy tomato plants within 48 hours of infestation, has left farmers helpless as entire harvests are wiped out before maturity.
This resurgence is already impacting market prices nationwide. A 50kg basket of tomatoes, which previously sold for around ₦5,000, now fetches between ₦10,000 and ₦30,000 depending on the location.
The steep price increase has also triggered hikes in related products such as tomato paste, stew ingredients, and street food.
Speaking during a press briefing, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, lamented the scale of the destruction.
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He emphasized that beyond the current emergency response, long-term investment in pest-resistant crop varieties, farmer education, and sustainable pest control is crucial.
“This is not just a northern Nigeria issue—this is a national food security concern. We must treat it with the urgency it deserves,” Kyari said.
Prominent economist Bismarck Rewane warned that the outbreak could inflate prices across the broader food basket. “We are looking at ripple effects that will touch the entire supply chain—from small food vendors to large processors,” he noted.
To mitigate further losses, experts are calling for the deployment of integrated pest management systems, subsidized pesticides, and support for farmers through grants and crop insurance.
There are also renewed calls for the government to strengthen its agricultural early warning systems to prevent future outbreaks of this scale.
The 2016 outbreak of the same pest had led to tomato shortages and importation of the staple into Nigeria—a scenario the government is now working hard to avoid.
Crediblenewsng.com
