The National Onion Producers and Marketers Association in Nigeria has sought the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the lingering trade disputes between Nigerian and Ghanaian traders engaged in the business.
The association’s national President, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, told newsmen on Sunday in Sokoto in northern Nigeria that Nigerian onion marketers had halted onion exports to Ghana, explaining that the decision was reached after exhausting all resolution parameters.
He also stressed the need for urgent intervention by the governments of Nigeria and Ghana to resolve the disagreement.
Maitasamu said that restoring the flow of onions between the two countries would strengthen confidence in cross-border agricultural commerce across West Africa.
He explained that the development has triggered fresh concerns among farmers, producers, exporters, transporters and other players in the onion value chain.
According to him, stakeholders are afraid that a prolonged disruption can inflict serious economic losses on both sides of the border.
“Suspension will remain in force until an amicable and mutually acceptable agreement is reached between the two countries on the modalities governing onion trade.
“The action was not taken to undermine regional trade, but aimed at drawing the attention of the relevant authorities to the difficulties faced by Nigerian traders and securing a lasting solution to the dispute,” Maitasamu said.
He urged ECOWAS to urgently mediate on the onion trade dispute before the disagreement degenerates into a wider crisis.
The official said that the dispute was capable of undermining the principles of regional economic integration.
He urged ECOWAS to facilitate a fair, transparent and enforceable framework that would protect legitimate agricultural traders and prevent unilateral actions from disrupting cross-border commerce.
According to Maitasamu, this is necessary because both Nigeria and Ghana are important members of ECOWAS and agricultural trade between them provide livelihoods for thousands of people.
He added that onion production and marketing constitute a significant source of livelihood for thousands of Nigerians, including farmers, aggregators, truck drivers, wholesalers and retailers.
He urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the dispute does not culminate in unnecessary hardship for the ordinary farmers and traders, who depended on the regional market to sell their produce.
Maitasamu appealed to all the parties to embrace dialogue, adding that ECOWAS’ mediation can safeguard the interests of traders on both sides.
GIK/APA