Nigeria not on global onion export map — NEPC coordinator

Nigeria which has been the seventh largest onion producer in the world was not on the global onion export map.

This was revealed by the Sokoto coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Umar Akoyi during a stakeholders’ interactive session on the development of Onion strategy document for export on Friday.

He said onion was not initially a recognized product for export by the government.

Also speaking at the event, the National President, National Onion Producers, Processor, and Marketers of Nigeria, Aliyu wondered why Ghana which relied on Nigerian onion made it to the map before Nigeria.

“Nigeria produces two million tones of onion while Ghana produces less than 10,000 tones,” he said.

He, however, identified lack of support to the sector by the Nigerian government as the reason behind our absence.

“Onion was initially not recognised for exportation, thus was not enjoying any support from the government but in Ghana it is one of the major revenue earners for their government,” he explained.

The Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs Money Ayeni, said Nigeria was the second largest onion producer in Africa and 7th in the world.

“According to information gathered, the largest international onion market in Aliero, Kebbi state sold 93,375 and 103,610 tons in 2021 and 2023 seasons valued at over N4.5 billion yearly, to other countries in Africa,” she said

She further regretted that the country was earning low from the product due to a lack of attention to the sector.

“This program is therefore organized to interact with critical stakeholders in the onion value chain on possible ways of developing an export strategy document capable of reducing the various bottlenecks militating against the formal export; rapid increase in onion production; and double the country’s export of onion in the international market,” Ayeni who was represented by the acting Regional Coordinator, Northwest, Surajo Na-Alkali said.