Alhaji Aliyu Matasamu Isa, the national president of National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), is also the president of the regional onion body in West and Central Africa. In this interview by OLAKUNLE MARUF, he speaks on the recent trade dispute between his association and its Ghanaian counterpart.
What is the specific incident that led to the suspension of onion exports?
The issue arose during our normal trade activities with Ghana, which is one of the largest off-takers of onions from Nigeria and Niger Republic. In Ghana, we usually offload our onions at Kotoku Market through a known and trusted group called the Accra Onion Sellers.
However, some other groups, including associations of Ghanaian traders, held a meeting and decided that Nigerian onion suppliers should no longer sell to the Accra Onion Sellers. Instead, they insisted that all trucks must be handed over to them for distribution.
We rejected this because trade is governed by established international laws and agreements. Buyers should be free to transact with suppliers of their choice, just as Ghanaian traders come to Nigeria and buy from any seller they prefer.
What happened after you rejected their demands?
After we made it clear that their demands were not consistent with trade laws, the situation escalated. These groups went ahead to seize and confiscate about 15 trucks of onions at the market.
For over 10 days, the trucks were not offloaded. The onions are perishable goods, so this caused serious losses. Some of the trucks were vandalized, and there were reports of violence, including intimidation with weapons.
How did Nigerian onion exporters respond to this situation?
The affected traders, mainly from Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Kano States, convened a meeting under the onion exporters’ committee. They resolved to embark on a strike, suspending further loading and export of onions to Ghana until the seized trucks are released and offloaded.
What steps have you taken to resolve the crisis?
As the president of the regional onion body, I initiated mediation between the Ghanaian and Nigerian authorities. The aim is to bring both parties to the table and ensure that the seized trucks are released.
I have also appealed to Nigerian exporters to allow trucks already in transit to proceed, pending the outcome of ongoing diplomatic engagements. I understand that the Ghanaian Minister of Trade and the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana are currently in discussions to resolve the matter.
Were there any violations of trade laws by Nigerian exporters?
No, we did not violate any laws. Our operations comply with all relevant frameworks, including international trade protocols, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). Under Ghanaian law, we are permitted to supply onions through agents. The only restriction is on retailing, which we fully respect.
What has been the financial impact of this suspension on your members?
The financial impact has been severe. Onions are highly perishable, and keeping them in trucks for over 10 days leads to significant spoilage and loss of value. In addition, the vandalisation of trucks and disruption of supply chains have caused further economic damage. Many traders have invested heavily in these shipments, and the losses are substantial. Overall, this situation has negatively affected livelihoods, disrupted regional trade, and strained business relationships.
What is your expectation going forward?
We expect a swift resolution through dialogue and respect for established trade agreements. Trade should remain free, fair, and mutually beneficial. We also hope such incidents will not repeat, as they undermine regional integration efforts and economic cooperation within West and Central Africa.
How has the ongoing dispute affected your members and the onion trade?
The impact has been very significant. Nigeria is one of the largest exporters of onions to West African countries, and this disruption has affected not just Ghana, but also other countries along that trade corridor, including Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
On a daily basis, the onion trade generates between ₦5 billion and ₦10 billion. Over a 10-day period, that translates to losses of up to ₦100 billion. This figure is not limited to trade with Ghana alone, but reflects Nigeria’s broader export activities across the region.
It is quite unfortunate that this situation is ongoing, and I urge the government to act swiftly to resolve it.
As president of NOPPMAN, what steps have you taken to engage authorities in Nigeria and Ghana?
Even before the situation escalated, I wrote to the Nigerian Minister of Trade, highlighting the risks and urging proactive measures. I also contacted the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana to inform them of the situation. At this point, I believe efforts are being made to resolve the issue. However, I am not satisfied with the pace of response. This is an emergency situation involving perishable goods, and it requires urgent attention, not delayed meetings. We have trucks stuck, goods at risk of spoilage, and daily financial losses. Authorities must act immediately to allow the movement and offloading of goods while working on long-term solutions.
What conditions should be met before the dispute can be resolved and trade fully restored?
First, the rule of law in Ghana must prevail. Traders from Nigeria and other West and Central African countries have not violated any Ghanaian laws. The issue appears to involve certain groups, not the Ghanaian government as a whole. Lawful traders should be allowed to operate freely.
Secondly, both Nigeria and Ghana need to work on formalizing cross-border trade. While Nigeria has made significant progress, there are still gaps on the Ghanaian side. These include, Lack of structured companies or cooperatives Challenges in repatriating export proceeds, Limited knowledge of customs clearing processes, even for duty-free goods like onions. There is a need for training and sensitization on both sides to ensure smoother trade operations going forward.
Do global tensions, such as conflicts in the Middle East, affect the onion supply chain?
Yes, they do. The Middle East is a major consumer of onions, and disruptions in that region affect global supply chains. This situation also presents an opportunity for Nigeria to expand its export capacity. However, global conflicts can disrupt access to key agricultural inputs such as improved seeds and fertilizers, many of which come from countries like Ukraine, Russia, and Morocco. Instead of internal disputes, we should focus on leveraging these global opportunities to boost production and meet rising demand.
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How has insecurity in Nigeria affected onion farmers and traders?
Insecurity, particularly banditry, has had a serious impact on farmers and traders. Many farmers are unable to access all their farmlands due to fear of attacks or kidnapping. As a result, they are forced to farm only in areas close to their communities.
Transportation is also affected. There have been incidents where truck drivers transporting goods have been attacked and even killed. For instance, a recent case in Kebbi involved the killing of a driver, which I discussed with the Commissioner of Police.
Additionally, many farming communities have been displaced, disrupting food production.
Despite these challenges, Nigerian farmers remain resilient. They have developed coping mechanisms, including community-based security arrangements and, in some cases, negotiations to ensure safe access to farms.
The Oyo State Deputy Governor said: “On behalf of the Governor of Oyo State, I have been delegated to perform the presentation of staff of office to the elected chiefs in Ibadanland. Let me make it abundantly clear that whether the elevated royal majesties are present or not, this function, as required by law, is being duly performed. The conferment is sacrosanct. The lineage and structure cannot be altered or bypassed. We are strictly following due process. This moment is significant in the cultural and governance history of Ibadanland.”
The Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who spoke through Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Balogun of Ibadanland, lauded Governor Makinde for preserving the established elevation order for which the Ibadan traditional institution has become renowned. Oba Ladoja also congratulated the elevated traditional rulers. He also charged them on neutrality, especially in politics as they were now members of the Olubadan-in-Council who must maintain political neutrality according to the rules governing the throne.
A lawyer, Mr. Adebisi Adeyemo, meanwhile, objected to the ceremonies of last Friday. He described the elevation and coronation of the high chiefs in absentia as “potentially ultra vires”, and contended that the state government might have exceeded its legal authority.
Adeyemo had spoken on the backdrop of opinions that the elevation of the high chiefs was a ploy to deny one of them, High Chief (Senator) Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, the opportunity to vie for the governorship of the state in 2027. This is sequel to a rule which says that any member of the Olubadan-in-Council should no longer play partisan politics.
However, another lawyer and Senior Advocate (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola, expressed a contrary opinion and lauded the elevation of the high chiefs by the Oyo State government. He is of the view that the action of the government was predicated on a petition by one of the newly elevated high chiefs, and ignoring such petition might impugn on the right of such a qualified personality.
“Contrary to what many people are speculating out there, it was one of the recipients of the crowns that wrote a petition. In line with the law, he wrote a petition, and the Olubadan acted on it by writing to the governor. These three people are now qualified to wear a beaded crown by virtue of section 20 of the amended law of Oyo State, which I said was initially amended by Governor Ajimobi and was further amended by Governor Seyi Makinde.
“So, I have not seen anything wrong with what Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, former Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja did, and what the governor did. Both acted within the ambit of the law. And, as a matter of fact, the crowning of the Obas was initiated by the recipients themselves, which the Olubadan of Ibadanland acted upon. Of course, the governor enforced it. That was the situation.” On the question of their absence, which many had conceived to be abnormal, Chief Akintola (SAN) said their absence did not negate their coronation nor did it invalidate the proclamation of their new statuses. “If you are promoted even in your place of work, you don’t need to be at home. You don’t need to be there. It’s a hierarchical thing, whether you are there or not. Once it is your turn, you can’t jump. And in any case, they themselves wrote for it. One of them wrote for it. So that’s what happened.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria lauded former Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his successor, Seyi Makinde, “for thinking outside the box on the Ibadan traditional system by achieving what Ibadan people had been clamouring for over the decades.” Akintola said Ibadan, with over 33 towns, now has 11 Obas, who are all under the authority of the Olubadan of Ibadanland. “The significance of the event was that the tradition of Ibadanland has now been codified, and it should gladden the hearts of every Ibadan son and daughter, because our traditional system has been adjudged as the best in the world. The law has been amended, and the tradition has now been codified. People should go and read it. There is nothing wrong with what was done. Everything is within the ambit of the law. It’s within the ambit of the law. And ignorance of the law is not an excuse, because many people don’t read.
“We are grateful to the Almighty God, who empowered and endowed two of our sons, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Governor Seyi Makinde, to think outside the box and codify some of these traditional methods of doing things.”
Opinions do not seem to differ on one point: The succession system as exemplified in Ibadanland is not only enviable, it is worthy of emulation. Thus, Ibadan stands tall as a model of a healthy traditional institution and the Oyo State government must therefore always do all within the legal and moral limits to preserve this privileged legacy. A prince from Ogun State, who has lived in Ibadan all his life, Stephen Adenekan, noted that the Ibadan traditional succession model should be tried in some other communities in Yorubaland to stem the rising wave of chieftaincy disputes which often lead “long, winding and expensive court cases as well as war among brother-princes.”
Adenekan said: “If I am to suggest, traditional councils in other towns should look into their set-up and see if they can alter some things to allow them to copy the Ibadan model. It is less cumbersome and does not give the government so much room to manipulate the ascension of the traditional thrones. I like it, and I would like to see that happen in other Yoruba towns.”
On the event of Friday, April 4, 2026 at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan, opinions may vary, and emotions may well up, but all still agree that the beauty of Ibadan traditional succession system must be shielded from the taint and vagaries of political shenanigans. An Ibadan son, SulaimanAdeyemo, who reacted to the coronation and the issues around it said “if there was no politics in the air, we would not have been having varied opinions.” Adeyemo said: “It is better imagined what a chaotic or untidy traditional succession process would have amounted to for a city as vast, massive and cosmopolitan as Ibadan. The government must therefore always put its best foot forward with regards to this. Imagine the impact of a legal tussle alone among Agbooles and high chiefs of Ibadanland over succession! I think we are lucky in Ibadan, and we must let the government be.” What is your message to the government and stakeholders in resolving all these issues?
This issue must be treated as an emergency. We are dealing with perishable goods and significant economic losses. Immediate action is needed to restore trade flows.
At the same time, both Nigeria and Ghana should strengthen collaboration, formalize trade systems, and ensure that such disruptions do not happen again.
Above all, we must remember that Nigeria and Ghana share strong historical and economic ties. We are brothers, and our relationship should be preserved and strengthened.
What coping strategies are communities adopting due to banditry and insecurity?
In many affected areas, communities have developed different coping mechanisms to survive. Sometimes, bandits themselves set up vigilante groups, while in other cases, they bring in vigilantes from outside to work with them. There are also situations where communities are forced to pay money to secure their safety. These arrangements have become survival strategies for many people. However, despite these efforts, insecurity persists. People are still being kidnapped or killed, either on their way to farms, returning from farms, or while traveling to markets and other locations. A lot is happening that is not even widely reported, and communities continue to rely on prayers, asking God to see them through these difficult times.
Farmers are expressing frustration about rising production costs and poor market returns. Is onion farming still profitable?
Currently, onion farming is not profitable. The major issue is the high cost of production. Farmers spend heavily on inputs such as seedlings, fertilizers, and other essential materials. For example, a farmer may need to sell many bags of onions just to afford one bag of fertilizer. When you consider other expenses like seeds, farm maintenance, family needs, healthcare, and feeding, it becomes clear that the returns do not match the investment. In essence, the cost of production is higher than the value of the output, which is why farmers are complaining.
What solutions can the government implement to address this issue?
One key solution I often discussed, including at a Senate public hearing in Abuja, is government intervention during periods of surplus. In many developed countries, when production exceeds demand, the government steps in to buy the excess produce. This is often done through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
The government stores the surplus in reserves and later releases it into the market when supply drops. This approach helps to stabilise prices, prevent losses for farmers, control inflation and ensure steady supply. It creates a win-win situation for farmers, consumers, and the government. Unfortunately, this system is not effectively implemented, leaving farmers at a disadvantage.
What are the long-term implications if this situation continues?
If farmers continue to make losses, many will stop producing onions in subsequent seasons. This will lead to reduced supply, increased demand, higher prices (inflation) and job losses in the agricultural sector. In the long run, this situation will negatively affect not just farmers, but also consumers and the government.
What is your final message to security agencies, government, and citizens?
First, there is a need for continuous prayer, given the severity of the insecurity situation. Secondly, citizens should support security agencies by providing useful and timely information about threats in their communities. Thirdly, members of the public must respect law and order at all times to ensure stability.
At the same time, the government must develop a culture of listening to its citizens. Too often, complaints are ignored until situations escalate beyond control. Authorities should act proactively rather than waiting until problems reach a crisis point. Addressing issues early will prevent them from worsening and help maintain peace and stability in the country.
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