TOGAN reacts to Kano tomato market closure

After the announcement of the closure of famous tomato market in Kano State, the Kwanar Gafan Tomato Market over alleged illicit activities by Garun Malam Local Government Area, the national leadership of Tomato Out-growers Association of Nigeria (TOGAN) has reacted to the closure, stating that the said illegal activities alleged in the market were uncalled for, and it is in support of any action that will revive the integrity of the market.

In a chat with Weekend Trust, TOGAN national president, Alhaji Abdullahi Ringim, stated that the association is in full support of any step taken by the authorities to eradicate all miscreants’ activities within the vicinity of the market, adding that most of the perpetrators of the alleged acts are not by anyway related to tomato activities.

He further revealed that the association will continue to support all authorities concerned in seeing that tomato markets across the federation are being sanitised to a more friendly market standard. He explained that the move by the local government is indeed in favour of the tomato business as the prevalence of the miscreants’ acts has been a cause for concern.

“At association level we have been trying our best to see that the alleged acts perpetrated by people outside the tomato business sector is being tackled. That is why the association is in full support of the action taken by the local government. Moreover, the closure of the tomato market doesn’t mean the market has ceased to exist; what it means is that activities will take place during the tomato season as it used to be and it will close for a year after the season,” he said.

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It can be recalled that authorities in Garun Malam Local government Area of Kano State announced the indefinite closure of the tomato market at Kwanar Gafan over alleged illegal activities that range from prostitution, adultery, homosexuality, and other immoral activities reportedly taking place within its premises and around the market.

The local government chairman, Barr. Aminu Salisu Kadawa, confirmed the development to Weekend Trust, citing the need to restore order to the area.