It’s a sector being described as Nigeria’s new oil; the tomato industry. Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote is hoping to change tomato production in the country, with a giant factory that will boost domestic output, create jobs, and even, indirectly, fight Boko Haram.
Tomatoes are a huge part of Nigerian life, and every year 900,000 tonnes of tomato puree are consumed in jollof rice and fiery soups.
Nigeria has an abundance of tomatoes, about 1.5 million tonnes are produced annually, but it has lacked the capacity, will or ability to exploit the produce, forcing a reliance on imports.
When the Dangote factory opens next month it will provide about 430,000 tonnes of tomato paste annually. It will directly employ 120 people and 50,000 farmers have been engaged. However, erratic power supply, which Nigeria has been grappling with for more than two decades, and lack of import controls remain the factory’s main challenges.
