Customs Moves to Unlock N200bn Onion Trade Through Standardised Export Procedures
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is developing a uniform export procedure for onions across designated land borders to facilitate cross-border trade, reduce losses for farmers and traders, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the West African agricultural market.
The initiative is aimed at safeguarding an onion trade sector valued at more than N200 billion, with the Service seeking to eliminate procedural inconsistencies and delays that affect the movement of the highly perishable commodity.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, through the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, at a meeting on the Standard Operating Procedure for onion exports held at the NCS headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting followed a request by the President of the Regional Observatory of the Onion Sector in West and Central Africa, Aliyu Maitasamu Isah, for a harmonised export procedure that would apply uniformly across Nigeria’s land borders.
Speaking at the meeting, Bomodi explained that onions are highly perishable and susceptible to damage during transportation, warning that prolonged delays at border crossings could result in substantial financial losses for farmers and traders.
He said the Customs Service was committed to facilitating legitimate trade rather than creating obstacles for businesses, stressing that trade facilitation remained one of its major institutional priorities.
According to him, the Federal Government’s investments in cold-chain storage and other agricultural infrastructure demonstrate its commitment to improving production, preserving farm produce, extending shelf life and strengthening Nigeria’s export competitiveness.
Bomodi assured members of the onion sector association that the NCS would support efforts to ensure the seamless movement of agricultural produce within Nigeria and across the West African sub-region.
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He explained that the proposed framework would primarily facilitate trade within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where Nigerian onions qualify as originating goods because they are wholly obtained from local farms.
The Customs official noted that Nigerian onion producers rank among the largest suppliers in the sub-region, with their produce reaching markets in Ghana, Mali and other countries.
He identified Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano as major producing states, stressing the need for an efficient framework that would enable farmers and exporters to transport their produce to designated exit borders without unnecessary delays.
Bomodi further cited data from the Federal Ministry of Finance estimating the value of the local and regional onion trade at more than N200 billion, describing the sector as a significant economic opportunity for Nigeria.
He said strengthening the country’s position in the West African onion market could increase foreign exchange earnings, expand farmers’ commercial opportunities and create pathways for Nigerian agricultural products into other African markets, Europe and America.
However, he emphasised that improved export procedures must be accompanied by proper documentation, standardisation and quality control to meet international requirements.
He noted that agricultural exports are subject to stringent regulations covering the use of herbicides and pesticides, packaging and product sizing.
To ensure compliance, he said the NCS works with relevant agencies, including Plant Quarantine and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to ensure that exported products meet prescribed standards.
These requirements include obtaining phytosanitary certificates to verify the plant health status of agricultural produce and its compliance with applicable export regulations.
In his remarks, Isah urged the Customs Service to introduce special strategic measures to ease onion exports and address challenges confronting traders across designated land borders.
He commended the Service for facilitating legitimate trade with neighbouring countries and intervening to curb alleged harassment and extortion of traders at border points.
By PRNigeria
