Customs pledges end to non-tariff barriers, boost for ₦1.17trn onion industry
Maureen Aguta
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has pledged firm support for onion farmers and export stakeholders, promising to eliminate non-tariff barriers and resolve operational bottlenecks impeding trade along critical transit routes.
Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, gave the assurance on Monday, February 9, 2026, during a courtesy visit by the Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/AOC), led by its President, Aliyu Maitasamu, at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi said the Service would work closely with other government agencies to create a more enabling environment for export-oriented businesses, particularly within the agricultural value chain.
“Let me assure onion farmers and other export-focused stakeholders that the NCS will stand solidly behind you. We will remove all known non-tariff barriers and collaborate with relevant agencies to facilitate your trade,” he stated.
The Customs boss described the engagement as timely, noting that in the past six months, the Service had come under sustained pressure from economic operators in Benin Republic and Niger Republic over the use of Nigeria’s transit corridors — especially routes through the North-East and the Kamba axis.
He observed that discussions around transit corridors have largely centred on imports, adding that the renewed engagement with onion exporters presents an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s export profile and rebalance the trade narrative.
“What you are doing helps us balance the story. We should not only be talking about imports and transit; exports drive economic prosperity, create jobs, improve the balance of trade and contribute significantly to GDP growth,” Adeniyi said.
Beyond enforcing compliance, he stressed that regulatory agencies must also address legitimate concerns raised by stakeholders. He disclosed that following earlier representations by the association, he directed the Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation to establish a structured framework for sustained engagement.
In his remarks, ORO/AOC President Aliyu Maitasamu commended Customs for what he described as swift intervention following recent disruptions along the corridor.
“With recent developments and the reopening now in effect, we are here to appreciate the NCS for its prompt action,” Maitasamu said, while urging sustained collaboration to ensure seamless and durable operations in line with assurances previously given by the CGC in Kebbi State.
Acknowledging the complexities of cross-border trade regulation, Maitasamu affirmed the association’s readiness to work closely with Customs, proposing improved coordination mechanisms for onion transit. He said ORO/AOC possesses the infrastructure, technical expertise and regional presence to support Customs operations, particularly in documentation and compliance management along the corridor.
Highlighting the economic weight of the sector, he disclosed that Nigeria ranks as Africa’s second-largest onion producer after Egypt, with an annual output of approximately 2.1 million metric tonnes. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the country’s onion production is valued at about ₦1.17 trillion.
He noted that while countries such as Niger Republic, Algeria, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Cameroon play complementary roles in the regional onion value chain, Nigeria and Niger remain the two dominant players in onion production and exchange across the ECOWAS and Sahel regions.
Earlier, DCG Timi Bomodi, who oversees Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, described the engagement as consistent with the Federal Government’s broader objective of balancing economic growth with security imperatives.
Bomodi explained that a proposed token system discussed at the meeting would rest on two pillars: data and infrastructure.
“One component is data, which your association already possesses. The other is infrastructure. Trucks moving across these corridors place significant pressure on our roads, and the token system will enable government to gradually recover some of those costs for road maintenance,” he said.
The renewed collaboration signals a strategic shift toward strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural export corridors, positioning onion trade as a key driver of regional commerce and economic growth.