By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Topisto Tomato has been subjecting its workers to modern-day slavery in Calabar, Cross River State capital, Nigeria.
The height of it was on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, when the company squeezed its workers into a white Toyota Coaster bus with number plate: FZE-188CR, at 8 Miles, Calabar Municipality.
The incident shows that the company which is operated by Indians and located at the the Calabar Free Trade Zone, EPZ, Calabar, care less about the safety and welfare of its workers.
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A concerned Nigerian who could not stand the act told CONVERSEER that the lives of Nigerians have become like that of mosquitoes that everyone wants to pounce on.
The source who is also a safety expert, said, “This is modern slavery of Nigerians by Asian companies in Nigeria. Poor safety, welfare and humanitarian conditions. What if an accident occurs?
“Packing people like Sardines inside a bus just to go to work. This is the height of slavery. What I saw Topisto Tomato did today at 8 Miles to their workers, shows that no one cares about ordinary Nigerians.”
When CONVERSEER contacted the Calabar Office of Topisto Tomator on the phone on Wednesday, the call didn’t go through but that of Lagos did, and a representative said the management was not aware of the incident.
The representative told our Reporter, “We are not aware of such at the Lagos office but I’ll inform the management. Thank you for the feedback.”
CONVERSEER reports that Topisto Tomato is a product of an Indian company, Mohan Agro Food FZE. They are also the makers of Tumbo Bitters.
CONVERSEER also reports that stuffing people together can lead to the transfer of body contact and communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis, Lassa fever, COVID-19, and more.
The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, revealed that Tuberculosis, TB has killed 149 people and infected 7,000 in Cross River State in the last two years, with Calabar, Ogoja, Boki and Yakurr being the most prevalent.