Customs Pledges Support for Onion Exports, Moves to Remove Trade Bottlenecks

News in Brief:

-Nigeria Customs Service has pledged to remove non-tariff barriers and improve transit corridor operations to support onion exports and other agricultural trade.

-The move is expected to ease bottlenecks for farmers as Nigeria strengthens its position as Africa’s second-largest onion producer and a key player in regional trade.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has assured onion farmers, traders and exporters of its commitment to removing non-tariff barriers and improving cross-border trade operations to boost agricultural exports.

Such barriers often include border and administrative bottlenecks, informal charges, road harassment, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance challenges, logistics constraints, and policy uncertainties that make it difficult for farmers to move produce across borders profitably.

Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/AOC) at the Customs House in Abuja. He stated that the Service would collaborate with relevant government agencies to create a more enabling and predictable environment for onion exports and other agricultural commodities.

Addressing Corridor Challenges

Adeniyi described the engagement as timely, noting that in recent months the Service had faced pressure over the use of Nigeria’s transit corridors, particularly routes through northeastern Nigeria and the Kamba axis linking to the Niger Republic and Benin.

While corridor discussions often focus on imports and transit goods, the CGC stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s export profile, especially in agriculture.

“Exports bring economic prosperity, create employment, support a favourable balance of trade and ultimately contribute to GDP growth,” he said.

To address exporters’ concerns, he disclosed that Customs has established a structured engagement framework led by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation to improve coordination and resolve operational challenges.

The development follows the recent reopening of the Tsamiya Border Corridor in Kebbi State, restoring a key land route for agricultural exports to the Benin Republic after seven years of closure.

Nigeria’s Strong Position in Onion Production

ORO/AOC President, Aliyu Maitasamu, commended Customs for its prompt intervention after recent disruptions along export corridors and called for sustained collaboration to guarantee smooth operations.

He noted that Nigeria is Africa’s second-largest onion producer after Egypt, with annual output estimated at 2.1 million metric tonnes and valued at about ₦1.17 trillion, according to FAO data. Nigeria and the Niger Republic remain dominant players in onion production and trade across ECOWAS and the Sahel region.

Customs also discussed introducing a token system focused on improved data management and infrastructure to enhance monitoring and efficiency in onion transit.

For farmers, the renewed commitment offers hope of fewer export bottlenecks and better access to regional markets.