By Habibu Harisu
The National Onion Producers and Marketers Association has sought the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over lingering trade disputes between Nigeria and Ghana.
The association’s national president, Alhaji Aliyu Maitasamu, made the call in an interview with newsmen of Sunday in Sokoto.
Maitasamu disclosed that Nigerian onion marketers had halted onion exports to Ghana, explaining that the decision was reached after exhausting all resolution parameters.
He also stressed the need for urgent intervention by the governments of Nigeria and Ghana to resolve the disagreement.
Maitasamu said restoring the flow of onions between the two countries would strengthen confidence in cross-border agricultural commerce across West Africa.
He said the development had triggered fresh concerns among farmers, producers, exporters, transporters and other players in the onion value chain.
According to him, stakeholders are afraid that a prolonged disruption could inflict serious economic losses on both sides of the border.
“Suspension will remain in force until an amicable and mutually acceptable agreement is reached between the two countries on the modalities governing onion trade.
“The action was not taken to undermine regional trade but aimed at drawing the attention of the relevant authorities to the difficulties faced by Nigerian traders and securing a lasting solution to the dispute,” Maitasamu said.
He urged ECOWAS to urgently mediate on the onion trade dispute before the disagreement degenerated into a wider crisis.
The official said the dispute was capable of undermining the principles of regional economic integration.
He urged ECOWAS to also facilitate a fair, transparent and enforceable framework that would protect legitimate agricultural traders and prevent unilateral actions from disrupting cross-border commerce.
Maitasamu said this was necessary because both Nigeria and Ghana were important members of ECOWAS, and agricultural trade between them provided livelihoods for thousands of people.
The association’s president said onion production and marketing constituted a significant source of livelihood for thousands of Nigerians, including farmers, aggregators, truck drivers, wholesalers and retailers.
He urged relevant authorities to ensure that the dispute did not culminate in unnecessary hardship for ordinary farmers and traders, who depended on the regional market to sell their produce.
The onion trader also proposed the establishment of clear and predictable rules governing the movement of onion between Nigeria and Ghana.
He also stressed that transparency and adherence to agreed trade protocols were essential to preventing future disputes.
Maitasamu appealed to all parties to embrace dialogue, adding that ECOWAS’ mediation could safeguard the interests of traders on both sides. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Mark Longyen