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The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Health Services and Drug and Narcotics to investigate the reported importation of substandard and cancer-causing tomato paste into the country.
The house directed the committees to report findings back to it within three weeks for further legislative business.
The order followed a motion moved by Hon. Ossai Ossai, Delta, PDP, which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.
In his submission, Ossai said there was an increase in importation of fake and substandard food into Nigeria particularly tomato paste. He expressed concern that the ugly development of importation of cancer- infested tomato paste was killing a lot of Nigerians.
According to him, it is reported that this mafia group are collaborating with a few indigenous manufacturers in Nigeria who are being used as a cover-up. Ossai further said that the fake and substandard and cancer- causing tomato paste had flooded the Nigerian markets with low prices.
The Delta state lawmaker further explained that this has compelled the closing down of many and genuine indigenous tomato paste processing companies in Nigeria which has resulted to retrenchment of over 50 per cent of their staff.
