Nigeria has resumed onion exports to Ghana after officials from both countries intervened to address a market access dispute that had disrupted shipments to Accra’s Kotoku Market.
The National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) lifted its suspension of exports in August after traders reported truck seizures, difficulties unloading consignments and other restrictions affecting access to the Ghanaian market.
Nigeria exports about 100,000 metric tons of onions to Ghana each year, according to NOPPMAN.
The dispute has highlighted concerns over non-tariff barriers affecting agricultural trade within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), where regional agreements are intended to facilitate the movement of qualifying goods across member states.
Under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, qualifying products are eligible for preferential treatment, but traders can still face delays, documentation requirements, local restrictions and other market access disputes.
Such disruptions can be particularly costly for fresh produce traders because delays can increase the risk of spoilage and reduce returns for farmers and businesses.
Nigeria’s onion industry is valued at about 945 billion naira ($620 million), according to figures cited in the source article.
International trade expert Obiora Madu said regional trade agreements needed to be backed by predictable procedures at borders and markets.
“The real test of regional integration is not whether countries sign agreements,” Madu said. “The real test is whether a trader can cross the border with confidence that the rules will be there when he arrives.”
The dispute comes as Nigeria seeks to expand agricultural and other exports to African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Nigeria’s trade with other African countries was reported at about $9.02 billion, with exporters looking to deepen access to regional markets.
AfCFTA aims to progressively eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers while improving customs procedures, trade facilitation and mechanisms for resolving trade disputes. Businesses can also report non-tariff barriers through an online mechanism established under the agreement.
NOPPMAN national president Aliyu Maitasamu has called for a permanent bilateral framework between Nigeria and Ghana covering market access, unloading procedures and safety standards.
The resumption of onion shipments has eased the immediate disruption, but the dispute underscores the challenges facing regional fresh-produce supply chains, where the implementation and enforcement of trade rules can be as important as the agreements themselves.
