Nigerian Onion Traders Suspend Ghana Exports, Seek ECOWAS Intervention

Nigerian onion traders have suspended exports to Ghana and called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intervene in the lingering trade dispute between the two countries.

The National Onion Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPMAN) announced the decision on Monday through its National President, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, in Sokoto.

Maitasamu said the suspension followed the exhaustion of efforts to resolve the disagreement, adding that onion exports would remain halted until Nigeria and Ghana reached an amicable and mutually acceptable agreement on the rules governing the trade.

He said the decision was not intended to undermine regional commerce but to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the challenges confronting Nigerian traders and secure a lasting resolution.

According to him, NOPMAN had formally sought the intervention of ECOWAS and urged the governments of Nigeria and Ghana to urgently resolve the dispute.

Maitasamu warned that a prolonged suspension could cause significant economic losses across the onion value chain, affecting farmers, producers, exporters, transporters, wholesalers, retailers and other participants whose livelihoods depend on the trade.

He said restoring the movement of onions between the two countries would strengthen confidence in cross-border agricultural commerce across West Africa and protect thousands of livelihoods.

The latest action is not the first time Nigerian onion traders have suspended exports to Ghana over trade-related disputes.

In April 2026, a similar disagreement reportedly led to the suspension of cross-border onion trade after allegations of harassment and the seizure of onion-laden trucks belonging to Nigerian traders at Kotoku Market in Accra.

NOPMAN described the alleged confiscation of the trucks as unacceptable and contrary to established regional trade practices, subsequently directing members to halt onion shipments along the Ghana corridor until the safety and rights of Nigerian traders were guaranteed.

The association has since called on the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments, alongside regional authorities, to prevent further escalation and ensure compliance with existing ECOWAS trade agreements, particularly provisions promoting the free movement of goods and fair trading practices.