West African onion traders sign pact to stabilize cross-border trade

Stakeholders in the West African onion industry have signed a Memorandum of Agreement in Sokoto to stabilize cross-border trade and resolve recurring disputes. The pact, facilitated by the Regional Observatory of the Onion Sector in West and Central Africa, aims to establish clear rules for the movement of produce and improve market access among producers, exporters, and importers.

The agreement follows recent disruptions, including a suspension of Nigerian and Nigerien onion deliveries at Ghana’s Kotoku Market. This standoff has stranded trucks and caused significant financial losses for exporters due to the perishable nature of the goods. Aliyu Maitasamu, president of the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), noted that such restrictions violate regional frameworks like the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Experts suggest the dispute highlights challenges in regional trade integration, noting that while protocols exist on paper, local market disputes can undermine the predictability required for cross-border investment.