The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria has suffered losses exceeding N1.3 billion due to the outbreak of Tuta absoluta, a destructive pest commonly referred to as “Tomato Ebola,” across three states.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this on Wednesday during a four-day capacity-building workshop for financial institutions held in Abuja.
The event was organized by HortiNigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Plc (NIRSAL).
The outbreak, Kyari said, has caused the price of a 50kg basket of tomatoes to soar from N5,000 to between N10,000 and N30,000. This, he noted, has intensified food inflation and stretched household finances.
He identified Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna as the states most affected by the pest.
Kyari described the impact of the infestation as a signal of the vulnerability of Nigeria’s horticulture system. He warned that the tomato leaf miner could wipe out entire crops within 48 hours, resulting in devastating yield losses.
“This crisis highlights the urgent need for integrated pest management strategies, investment in resilient crop varieties and enhanced support for farmers to safeguard the country’s food supply chains,” he said.
The minister emphasized the centrality of tomatoes and peppers to Nigerian cuisine, noting their price increases ripple through the food economy.
“Tomatoes and peppers, essential ingredients in virtually every Nigerian kitchen, serve as baseline commodities for daily cooking.
“When the prices of these staples spike, they set off a chain reaction that affects the cost of meals across homes, restaurants and food vendors.
“According to the 2024 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), tomatoes led the food price index with a staggering 320 per cent year-on-year increase, followed by peppers and other produce.
“These spikes disproportionately affect low-income households, underlining the urgent need for more stable production, better storage and accessible finance across the horticulture value chain,” Kyari said.
He described horticulture as a sector with vast untapped potential in Nigeria, branding it a “sleeping giant” that could transform the rural economy and drive national development.
“Horticulture is the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, flowers, and ornamentals. It is far more than a sub-sector of agriculture,” the minister said.
According to him, “it is a dynamic engine for rural transformation, job creation, improved nutrition and trade diversification.
”With increasing urbanisation and growing awareness of healthy diets, consumer demand for fresh and diverse produce is rising rapidly. Horticulture is well-positioned to meet this demand,” he added.
Kyari noted that despite current challenges, the sector remains a high-potential area for investment and growth.
He pointed out that horticulture differs from traditional staple farming by offering higher value per hectare, shorter production cycles, and multiple harvests per year, making it ideal for smallholder farmers.
He also stressed its potential for job creation, especially among women and youth, and its linkages to processing, retail, export, and climate-resilient practices.
“The sector also offers climate resilience through protected cultivation and irrigation systems, urban food access through peri-urban farming and logistics integration.
“Horticulture is a high-impact, high-return opportunity sitting at the intersection of agriculture, health, industry, and trade,” he emphasised.
Kyari outlined how the sector contributes to agricultural diversification, income growth, food security, employment, climate adaptation, and integration with urban markets.
He said, “Crops like tomatoes, pineapples, cucumbers, citrus and plantains have huge domestic demand and are increasingly becoming important commercial crops.
“On food and nutrition security, horticultural crops are rich sources of vitamins A, C, iron, zinc, and folate nutrients vital for child development, maternal health and disease prevention.
“Scaling up their production and affordability is key to ending malnutrition in all its forms,” he added.
The minister urged financial institutions to understand the horticulture value chain and create tailored financial solutions for each stage.
He said lenders must move beyond generic products and develop options such as seasonal credit lines, equipment leasing, invoice discounting, and trade finance.
“Horticulture is not only a farming activity; it is a vibrant agribusiness ecosystem with scalable investment opportunities that can drive inclusive growth and food system transformation in Nigeria.
“Together, we can unlock the power of horticulture to nourish our people, build wealth and drive inclusive, sustainable growth.
“By building your capacity and investing wisely in the horticulture value chain, you are not just financing crops, you are financing livelihoods, nutrition, resilience, and inclusive growth and sowing the seeds for a healthier, wealthier, and more resilient Nigeria,” Kyari said.
