By peace udugba- The daily torch media
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has assured onion farmers and export stakeholders of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) commitment to removing non-tariff barriers, addressing operational bottlenecks and collaborating with relevant agencies to create a more enabling environment for export trade.
CGC Adeniyi gave the assurance on Monday, February 9, 2026, when he received a delegation from the Regional Observatory of Onion in West and Central Africa (ORO/AOC), led by its President, Aliyu Maitasamu, during a courtesy visit to the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the Comptroller-General reassured stakeholders of Customs’ readiness to support export-driven businesses.
“So let me assure onion farmers and other export-oriented stakeholders that the NCS will stand solidly behind you. We will remove all known non-tariff barriers and work with other government agencies and stakeholders to create a more facilitating environment for your trade,” Adeniyi stated.
He described the engagement as timely, revealing that over the past six months, the Service had faced sustained pressure from economic operators in Benin Republic and Niger Republic over the use of Nigeria’s transit corridors, particularly routes through the North-East and the Kamba axis.
According to him, while conversations around transit corridors often centre on imports, engaging onion exporters presents an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s export narrative and unlock broader economic benefits.
“What you are doing will help us balance the story. We will not only be talking about imports and transit, but also about exports. Exports bring economic prosperity, create employment, support a favourable balance of trade and ultimately contribute to GDP growth,” he said.
The CGC further noted that beyond enforcing compliance, regulatory agencies also have a responsibility to address legitimate concerns raised by stakeholders. He disclosed that following earlier representations by the association, he directed the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation to establish a structured engagement framework to resolve operational challenges.
In his remarks, ORO/AOC President Aliyu Maitasamu commended the NCS for what he described as prompt and decisive intervention following recent disruptions along the export corridor.
“With recent developments and the reopening now in effect, we are here to appreciate the NCS for its prompt action,” Maitasamu said, while calling for sustained engagement to ensure smooth and lasting operations in line with assurances earlier given by the Comptroller-General in Kebbi State.
He acknowledged the complexity of regulating cross-border trade and affirmed the association’s readiness to work closely with Customs. Maitasamu proposed improved coordination mechanisms for onion transit, noting that ORO/AOC has the infrastructure, expertise and regional presence to support Customs operations, including documentation and compliance management across the corridor.
Highlighting the economic significance of the onion sector, he disclosed that Nigeria is Africa’s second-largest onion producer after Egypt, with an annual output of about 2.1 million metric tonnes. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Nigeria’s onion production is valued at approximately ₦1.17 trillion.
He added that while Niger Republic and countries such as Algeria, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Cameroon play complementary roles in the regional onion value chain, Nigeria and Niger Republic remain the two most significant players in onion production and exchange within the ECOWAS and Sahel regions.
Earlier, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, described the engagement as consistent with the Federal Government’s efforts to balance economic growth with security considerations.
He explained that the proposed token system discussed at the meeting is built around two key components — data and infrastructure.
“One component is the data, which your association already has. The other is infrastructure. Trucks moving across these corridors put pressure on our roads, and the token system will allow the government to recover some of those costs over time for road maintenance,” Bomodi stated.
The meeting ended with renewed assurances of collaboration aimed at ensuring smoother export operations and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the regional onion market.
