Traders and consumers in Lagos have expressed concern over financial losses from spoilt fruits and vegetables, blaming heat, poor transportation and inadequate storage.

They spoke in separate interviews with journalists at Iddo Terminus, Mile 12, Balogun and Agboju markets.

A visit to the markets showed traders displaying fresh produce, including carrots, cucumbers, watermelons, cabbage, bananas and leafy vegetables, while some kept their goods under tables to shield them from sunlight.

Taiwo Abdulhamid, a trader at Iddo Terminus Market, said he sometimes loses two to three kilogrammes of carrots from every 10 kilogrammes purchased.

Mr Abdulhamid said the losses could cost him between N20,000 and N30,000, forcing him to discard spoilt produce or increase prices to recover part of his money.

Similarly, Mistura Olawale, a banana and pawpaw seller, said she lost about 10 per cent of her goods to spoilage before they reached the market.

Ms Olawale attributed the losses to bad roads, poor transportation and overripe produce, calling for improved feeder roads and refrigerated transit vans.

At Mile 12 Market, Rafiu Olamide, a seller of ugu and waterleaf, said more than 15 per cent of his vegetables sometimes spoilt within one or two days.

Mr Olamide said vegetables worth about N80,000 could result in losses exceeding N10,000, adding that she sometimes sold slightly damaged produce at reduced prices.

Blessing Sunday, a banana seller at Balogun Market, Eko Idumota, said she sometimes loses bananas worth about N100,000 from a batch.

Ms Sunday said selling groundnuts alongside bananas helped cushion the losses, adding that she hesitated to complain to suppliers about damaged fruits for fear of losing their patronage.

Shuaibu Tukur, a carrot seller at Carrot Site, Mile 12, said transportation challenges affected the quality of supplies sourced from Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Bauchi, Jos and Sokoto.

He said journeys from Sokoto to Lagos could take about 20 hours under favourable conditions but extend to two days, depending on road conditions.

Aminu Usman, a tomato seller at Mile 12 Market, said overcrowding during transportation caused tomatoes to press against one another and break.

Mr Usman said carefully selected tomatoes sold for about N45,000, while damaged or less visually appealing ones, locally called “Eesha”, sold for about N19,000.

He called for improved transportation and handling practices to reduce breakages and financial losses.

Beyond traders’ losses, consumers said spoilage often forced them to discard food purchased with money they could ill afford to waste.

Yusuf Halima said she could lose between N15,000 and N25,000 worth of fruits and vegetables monthly, particularly tomatoes and leafy vegetables.

“Sometimes, I buy N5,000 worth of tomatoes hoping they will last me for two weeks if I blend and store them, but if there is no light for two days, my freezer defrosts, and everything spoils,” she said.

Another consumer, Joshua Edward, said he discarded between 20 and 30 per cent of the fruits and vegetables he purchased weekly.

“If I buy vegetables or fruits for N10,000 weekly, at least N2,000 to N3,000 worth goes to the bin because it wilted, grew mould or started smelling,” he said.

Precious Taiwo, a consumer at Gate 3, Mile 12, said she had lost about N6,000 to spoilt mangoes and bananas, discouraging her from buying fruits as frequently.

Eunice Tosin, a student interviewed at Agboju Market, Festac, said tomatoes and bananas sometimes spoil shortly after purchase, forcing her to cut off affected portions.

Paulina Onoseme, a consumer at Iyana Iba, said carrots sometimes deteriorated by the following day, causing losses of about N500 on some occasions.

Ms Onoseme said some sellers concealed deteriorating carrots beneath fresh ones, adding that she discarded affected produce because of safety concerns.

Eddy Oloye, an engineer and farmer with a personal farm in Lusada, Agbara, said inadequate storage, poor transportation and ineffective preservation methods contributed to post-harvest losses.

Mr Oloye said discarded produce also created environmental nuisance but could be reused as animal feed or processed into other products through effective recycling systems.

He called for government and private-sector support for improved transportation, preservation facilities and training in proper produce handling.

Ebube Agbim, a vegetable seller on Joseph Lambo Street, Costain, said poor packaging and storage contributed to the deterioration of scent leaf, ugu and waterleaf.

Ms Agbim estimated that affected vegetables could be worth about N3,000 daily, although her actual loss was approximately N1,500.

Jubril Useni, a trader at Small Garage, Mile 12, said heat, overcrowded vehicles and prolonged journeys sometimes damaged pepper, green pepper, ground beans and spring onions before they reached the market.

The traders and consumers called for improved transportation, better storage and affordable preservation facilities to reduce waste, protect earnings and make fresh produce last longer. 

(NAN)

Despite challenging results at the ongoing African Boxing Elite Championships 2026, Nigeria’s Head of Delegation, Capt. Rasulun Kashim, has expressed confidence in the country’s boxing prospects, insisting that sustained support and international exposure will produce stronger performances.

The Nigeria Boxing Federation board member made the declaration during an exclusive interview with Sports247 in Nairobi, where he praised the federation’s leadership for supporting the Nigerian contingent.

Kashim particularly commended the NBF president for the commitment demonstrated towards the team’s participation in the continental championship.

“I must commend our federation president. With the kind of support we are getting, I think we will surely do well,” he stated.

According to him, Nigeria arrived at the competition with strong belief in the abilities of its boxers and determination to compete favourably against other African nations.

Although some results have not gone Nigeria’s way, Kashim maintained that the athletes have demonstrated encouraging qualities.

“The boxers are good, and they are doing very well,” he said.

The delegation leader explained that developing successful athletes requires patience, regular competition and continuous investment in training and exposure.

He stressed that international tournaments offer important opportunities for Nigerian fighters to assess their abilities against opponents with different technical approaches.

Kashim also highlighted the importance of teamwork among federation officials, coaches, athletes and other stakeholders.

He believes that consistent institutional support will help Nigerian boxing overcome challenges and build a stronger foundation for future competitions.

The delegation leader’s comments come after Nigerian boxers Aishat Gbadamosi and Abdulramon Abdulwahab experienced disappointing decisions against opponents from Algeria and Egypt.

Rather than allowing those setbacks to define Nigeria’s participation, Kashim expressed confidence in the athletes’ abilities and future development.

He maintained that the federation’s support remains vital to helping the country’s boxing talents realise their potential.

For Kashim, the Nairobi championship is not simply about immediate victories but also about building experience, strengthening confidence and preparing Nigerian boxers for future success.