Killer Tomato Pastes: Need For Action

Reports of the importation and circulation
of poisonous tomato pastes into Nigeria
is worrisome and condemnable. The situation poses a potential health emergency that requires immediate action but which the average Nigerian knows very little about.
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) alerted the nation on the circulation of cancerous tomato pastes which contain colouring starch and other dangerous materials that are capable of causing serious health challenges.
According to health officials, the said products which were imported from China contain less than the required tomato concentrate as they contain other substances capable of causing cancer, organ failure and other related ailments.
They said that 90 per cent of the killer tomato brands fall short of the standards of NAFDAC and SON, while both organs were making efforts to remove the sub-standard products from Nigerian market.
The Tide wonders how any products, particularly from another country could enter Nigerian market without clearance by relevant authorities. In this era of terror and insurgency, situations such as this can be fatal and inimical to national security.
Indeed, this is another indictment on the Nigerian system, especially that of the Customs, NAFDAC, SON and other relevant agencies who should have nipped-in-the-bud the introduction or circulation of any harmful product into the Nigerian market.
Sadly, while the European Union (EU), Asia, India and indeed China do not allow coloured and cancerous tomato paste into their territories, some persons, even Nigerians would import such products into Nigeria for selfish purposes.
We are persuaded that no country would allow the production and export of any dangerous good, if for nothing, because the world had become a global village. We are particularly disturbed that the products would be associated with China where such acts attract life sentence.
The Tide implores the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action to trace the source of the killer tomato products. Similarly, government must protest formally to the Chinese authorities, with a view to bringing the manufacturers and importers to face the law.
Meanwhile, NAFDAC and SON should commence a massive mop-up of the affected brands, while going after the organisations and individuals involved in this gross inhuman and mindless business.
We also expect that the federal and state governments will create the enabling environment for local tomato producers. It is sad that Nigeria ranks amongst the highest importers of tomato pastes in the world, even when 50 percent of fresh tomato produce locally just go to waste season after season.
The time has come for Nigeria to explore the abundant tomato produce in Nigeria and maximally reduce the import of foreign tomato pastes. Government must provide necessary processing facilities close to the tomato farmers and provide safe and cheap tomato paste for the people. Interestingly, it will also provide jobs and expertise for our people.
For those Nigerians who always prefer and depend on foreign products, the killer tomato serves as an eye opener to the fact that an item is imported does not make it safe. Nigerians must be vigilant and contribute to the development of local product-lines even to make them export viable as soon as possible.
The inability of the officers of government to protect the people of Nigeria has become one too many. The failure of the system may be blamed on the government, but until specific individuals are identified and punished very little will change.
The real action in this matter is not just the need to mop up the poisonous substance, but also in identifying who failed in his duties to protect Nigerians and making the person pay.