Agingi Tomatoes Traders decry alleged produce theft, insecurity
From Yakubu Wuyep, Jos
Mrs Jummai Bernard has said they are suffering from insecurity as she lost bags of fertilizers two days ago from unknown criminal who broke into her shop .
She spoke to our correspondent on the high level of insecurity as she lost goods worth million from the criminal elements while calling for police outpost .
The association had also noticed that poor patronage ,cost of shops were being traded in the market by the officials of council even thought the economic activities of the market is yet to pick up .
The Tomatoes Produce Buyers Association (TPBA) in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, has alleged persistent stealing of tomatoes produce and shady Government over charging shops without the necessary facilities present.
This was in an exclusive interview with our correspondent at Agingi Tomatoes market on Tuesday .
Mrs Bernard who lost valuable worth million said the growing insecurity and rising cases of goods theft across villages and towns within the local government area had been affecting their operations and businesses.
she said the also noticed that the authorities responsible for upgrading of the Tomatoes sellers cannot afford recreational facilities and safety in the market.
According to her, a report from the association’s task force revealed that Tomatoes stock purchased around several villages was allegedly moved to Farin Gada market in raw .
One of the trader ,expressed displeasure with the manner the indigenes are misbehaving and that is gradually affecting the business traders across the council who are willing to come .
Coach said the major challenges of the Agingi Tomatoes Market is the high cost of acquiring a shop which is very expensive to get money especially with the rising problem of insecurity within the market.
He appealed to the local authority to improve the security and deployed police outpost for the safety of lives and property of the marketers .
Coach Bright lamented that the council is not helping them the traders to improve their wellbeing as he stressed that they are in need of assistance to boost their income.
He, however, said the association would be putting in place countermeasures to promote transparency and curb the activities of unscrupulous persons.
He said, “We intend to put a ban on the purchase of wet Tomatoes, as well as shifting it neighboring market . We also plan to stop the use of measuring bows for measurement instead of standard kilogrammes”.
He, therefore, called on local, state government to support the association’s efforts in tackling insecurity and the trade of Tomatoes.
Mr Coach also appealed for agriculture empowerment initiatives for youth, the elderly, produce buyers, and farmers to strengthen the agricultural sector.
He emphasised that Plateau remains one of the largest Tomatoes producing State in Nigeria .
The Women Leader of Agingi, Mrs Florence Kumzhi made a passionate called on the local government Council to come to their rescue by putting the necessary security agencies to monitor the affairs of the market.
she stressed that they are coming from the Rukuba barrack but the market witnessing low patronage, as the situation is getting worse each market day .
Kumzhi noted that the overgrown grasses around the market also discourage traders coming from far to sell goods ,we need conducive environment for the market to strive .
According to her, here we are in need of water,modern equipment light and price of shops should be make affordable for interesting marketers to pay .
However, efforts to speak with the council Chairman Joshua Sunday Riti prove abortive at the time of filing in this report
The council Chairman phone rang twice but he didn’t pick
